Why does the Southern US eat Black-Eyed Peas on New Year’s?
The Southern US has a tasty tradition of eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day for good luck. It is like a delicious way to welcome the New Year with a big pot of fortune. Folks believe that each black-eyed pea you gulp brings good luck and prosperity coming your way in the next year. These black-eyed peas are naturally packed with goodness, making the new year a yummy and healthy start.
Black-eyed peas are also enjoyed on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, for similar reasons of wishing for good things in the year ahead. And the tradition of cooking them with rice goes back even further, with roots in African cooking. So, whether you are in the South, celebrating Rosh Hashanah, or just looking for a lucky and delicious start to your year, try black-eyed peas! They are a tasty symbol of good things to come, and who knows, they might bring you a year full of good luck and fortune.
Black-Eyed Peas Ingredients
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1 pound of dry black-eyed peas
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2 tablespoons of olive oil
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1 large yellow onion into small dice
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2 cloves of garlic, minced
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2 cartons of chicken broth
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8 cups of water
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1 pound of smoked ham hocks
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1 can of diced tomatoes
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5 pepperoncini peppers
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1 bay leaf
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½ teaspoon of garlic powder
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¼ teaspoon of ground thyme
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Salt and pepper
Black-Eyed Peas Recipe
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Step 1
Place the beans into a large bowl and generously cover them with cool water. Leave them to soak at room temperature for 8 hours overnight. After that, pour the water, rinse them, and keep them aside.
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Step 2
Heat oil and cook diced onion and garlic in a large pot until translucent for 5 mins. Add broth, water, black-eyed peas, ham hocks, tomatoes, pepperoncini, bay leaf, garlic powder, thyme, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then simmer.
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Step 3
Put a lid on the pot and let everything cook gently until the black-eyed peas are soft, the meat from the ham bones easily comes off, and the broth becomes thicker, usually taking about 3 hours.
How to Eat Black-Eyed Peas Recipe?
Eating black-eyed peas for New Year's is believed to bring good luck for the year. Many legends say combining them with other foods can enhance this luck. For instance, greens like spinach or kale symbolize money, cornbread represents gold, and pork signifies moving forward in life. One popular dish that combines all these lucky foods is Hoppin' John with cornbread on the side. However, the key is to make sure you consume all these lucky foods on New Year's Day, regardless of how you have them. So, why not start the year with a mouth-watering and fortunate feast?
Some Additional Tips
Preparing Black-eyed peas is easy, but there are some tips and tricks that you should not miss if you are cooking this recipe for the first time:
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Let your leftover cooked black-eyed peas cool down completely. Afterward, move them to an airtight container and refrigerate them for three to five days.
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To freeze your New Year's black-eyed peas, put them in a safe container and use it within 6 months. When you want to eat them, let them soften in the fridge and reheat them on the stove or microwave.
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To cook on the stove: Clean and wash the beans, soak them overnight with salt, then cook in a pot with water or stock, simmering for an hour until tender, and check if they're done by tasting or mashing against the pot.
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To cook in a slow cooker: Clean and wash the beans, optional to soak, then put them in the slow cooker with water or broth and seasonings, and cook on low for 3-4 hours if soaked or 5-6 hours if not.
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To cook black-eyed peas in an Instant Pot: Clean and rinse the beans without soaking them and cook in the Instant Pot with water and seasonings. Pressure cook for 20-25 minutes, and let the pressure release naturally for up to 30 minutes before opening.
Now that your taste buds are tickled and your lucky spoon is ready, it is time to put this delicious culinary tradition into action. Gather your ingredients, crank up the heat, and let the magic of this recipe do its thing in your kitchen. Remember, scooping up every black-eyed pea for New Year's guarantees a year filled with good luck and prosperity.
So simmer with patience, stir with good vibes, and, most importantly, savor every bite of this lucky New Year's treat. It is a meal and a delightful wish for a New Year filled with happiness and fortune. Go ahead, cook up a pot of these lucky black-eyed peas, and ring in the year with a belly full of flavor and a heart full of hope!
