New Year's Black-Eyed Peas

If you want to ensure that the new year is a lucky one, take part in the classic Southern tradition: eat black-eyed peas on New Year's day. As the tradition goes, a serving of black-eyed peas eaten on New Year’s day is said to bring luck and wealth in the year ahead. Served with cooked greens, cornbread, and hot sauce, this lucky dish is one we’ll gladly eat every year. Keep reading on for everything you need to know:

Why do we eat black-eyed peas on New Year’s day?
The tradition of eating a serving of black-eyed peas for good luck in the year ahead has roots in African-American history, and continues to be a popular Southern practice today. Often seen as symbols for coins, black-eyed peas are said to bring you financial prosperity. Whether you always practice this tradition, are hoping for wealth and prosperity in the year ahead, or simply love this side dish, we think this should be a staple on your holiday. 

How to make New Year's black-eyed peas:
 — Sort and rinse. Before soaking, place your dried beans in a bowl and give them a look through. Make sure there are no leaves, twigs, or any broken beans, then give them a quick rinse.
— Soaking your black-eyed peas. If you need to satisfy your craving the same day, feel free to skip the overnight soak of the peas in favor of a quick soak. Dried bean purists will always object to skipping an overnight soak, but the honest truth is there’s a better (and faster) way. Soaking the beans in hot water for an hour will yield an identical result to an overnight soak. In a large saucepan, add the beans and cover with water by at least 2 inches. Cover with a lid and bring to a rolling boil. Remove from heat and leave to soak for 1 hour and they'll be ready to go! 
— The meat. These black-eyed peas are cooked with a little bit of onion, garlic, spices, and a hunk of fatty salted pork for depth of flavor and a hint of smokiness. You can use anything from fatback and hog jowls to ham hock and slab bacon. Or, if you don't like pork products, opt instead for some smoked turkey. Want to make this dish vegetarian? Omit the smoked pork bone, and double up on the smoked paprika, or add some liquid smoke to maintain some smokiness. 

What to serve with black-eyed peas:
Serve these beans up with our collard greens, glazed ham steak, hot sauce and cornbread for the most festive (and lucky) New Year's meal.   

Made this? Let us know how it went in the comments below!