Vegan Hoppin' John (Black-Eyed Peas and Rice)

I wanted to share with you a new recipe for our family's traditional black-eyed peas New Year's meal. It's a vegan recipe that's similar to Hoppin' John, and it was perfect for our family, which includes two vegetarians.

Rather than cooking the rice in the same pot with the black-eyed peas, we served the black-eyed peas over a bed of white rice. But, considering Hoppin' John is a recipe that originated in the Carolinas (just like The Harris Sisters!), Carolina Gold rice would be a great addition to this recipe too.

Vegan Hoppin' John (Black-Eyed Peas and Rice)

16 oz. bag dry black-eyed peas, sorted and rinsed
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 rib celery, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
15 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 Tablespoon hot sauce
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon salt 
1/2 teaspoon Liquid Smoke flavoring
cooked rice to serve

1. Wash the sorted dry beans. Place them into a pot and cover with at least 2 inches of water. Let them soak 8 hours or overnight. Drain and set aside.
2. Add olive oil and onion to a large pot and sauté until it begins to brown. Add the bell pepper, celery, and garlic and cook for another 2 minutes. 
3. Then add all ingredients except salt, Liquid Smoke, and cooked rice to the pot, along with enough additional water to cover the beans by one inch. 
4. Bring beans to a boil, then reduce to simmer, cover, and cook until beans are completely tender, about 1 1/2-2 hours, adding more water as needed. (Note: water should cook down into a thick sauce, but make sure that beans have enough water to cook in at all times.)
5. When they’re tender, add the Liquid Smoke and salt, cook for 15 more minutes.
6. Serve over cooked rice with a side of collard greens and cornbread to complete your vegetarian New Year's meal!

Notes:

If you prefer a spicier dish, you can either increase the amount of hot sauce and cayenne pepper in the recipe or serve with additional hot sauce.

If you prefer green bell peppers to red bell peppers, you can substitute them in this recipe.

If you want to avoid the "rush" of buying black-eyed peas right before the end of the year, put them on your grocery list for the same week you're buying ingredients to make Christmas goodies. While you're buying ingredients to make Christmas cookies, candies, fudge, etc., swing by the dried beans aisle and pick up a bag of black-eyed peas for your pantry. That way, you'll already have them for when you need them, and you won't have to hunt for them when supplies will be low a few weeks later.

Traditions & Superstitions: 

Hoppin' John is a Lowcountry dish that is served for New Year’s Day.  According to superstition, if you eat Hoppin' John on New Year’s Day, then you will have good luck for the coming year.

• black-eyed peas represent coins
• tomatoes represent health
• cornbread represents gold (this is traditionally served with alongside black-eyed peas on New Year's Day)
• collard greens represent green backs (dollars), or cash (this is traditionally served with alongside black-eyed peas on New Year's Day)
• Sometimes, the cook slips a coin into the dish before serving, or serves each dish with a coin underneath.

On the day after New Year's Day, leftover Hoppin' John is called Skippin' Jenny, bringing a hope for an even better chance of prosperity in the New Year.