{"id":63223,"date":"2025-12-20T08:05:34","date_gmt":"2025-12-20T16:05:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.seattleschild.com\/?p=63223"},"modified":"2026-01-02T10:38:48","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T18:38:48","slug":"new-years-hoppn-john","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.seattleschild.com\/new-years-hoppn-john\/","title":{"rendered":"Hoppin\u2019 John: A New Year&#8217;s Day tradition in my family"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">I have nothing against football.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Ok. That&#8217;s not entirely true. I\u00a0<\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">do<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0have something against football, but that&#8217;s a conversation for another time. I know many folks have love the tradition of watching football on New Year&#8217;s Day. There&#8217;s nothing wrong with that. I can see how watching a big game could be a very entertaining way to spend an afternoon\u2014friends gathering, themed food, excitement, all the elements of a good time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">But I adopted the traditions of our southern relatives and serve Hoppin\u2019 John on New Year&#8217;s Day.\u00a0 This black-eyed peas dish is served with collard or other greens and a heaping helping of cornbread. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2021\/12\/24\/dining\/black-eyed-peas-greens-new-years.html\">The New York Times <\/a>offers a great history of this tradition \u2014 It&#8217;s a great one to share at the table as you serve them up!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seattle&#8217;s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wanawari.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wa Na Wari<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, an immersive community art project dedicated to reclaiming Black cultural space, historic preservation, and supporting Black ownership in the region, recently shared the following New Year&#8217;s Day food folklore:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eating black-eyed peas on New Year&#8217;s Day brings good luck in the new year.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For the best chance of luck every day in the new year, eat 365 black-eyed peas on New Year&#8217;s Day.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When served with greens (collards, mustard, or turnip), black-eyed peas represent coins, and greens represent paper money.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cornbread, often served with black-eyed peas and greens, represents gold.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Black-eyed peas eaten with stewed tomatoes represent wealth and health.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Hoppin&#8217; John, each pea represents a coin, and a whole serving equals prosperity.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Classic Hopp&#8217;n John includes a smoked ham hock, but as a vegetarian, I take culinary license and use the recipe from &#8220;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.evl.uic.edu\/spiff\/recipe\/hop.html\"><u><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Sundays at Moosewood Restaurant<\/span><\/u><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">,&#8221; adding smoked paprika. Served over rice, this is a satisfying bowl of goodness!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This very humble food doesn&#8217;t bring any of the flash and excitement of cheering fans and buffalo wings. Still, after a late night of celebrations with their exuberant expressions of love and resolutions for the coming year, a quiet day feels just right. To make the day more festive, I invite other non-football families to join, and my kids can recite to our guests the meaning of this southern dish, sometimes with a bit of eye-rolling, but I&#8217;ll take it.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">After a lunch\/brunch of peas, greens, and cornbread, we fly kites if the weather permits. We add a new kite to our collection every year, and Golden Gardens is our usual New Year&#8217;s Day destination\u2014lots of air space and wind. In the past, when I was more ambitious, we made kites, but now I&#8217;m happy to purchase one, and truth be told, they are usually easier to get in the air.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In regards to the previous comment about eye-rolling, there is a conversation I&#8217;ve had with my children since they were very young about why traditions are important. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Why do we do the same things on the same days every year? Why do we bring forward practices we learned in our families of origin or choice, or why do we create our own traditions? <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">I know why I do it. To give my children something to build on. Something that will provide them with an anchor when they move into their own independent lives. Perhaps these things seem tedious now, but trust me, you will be glad you have them to use, discard, and make your own. <\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>A meat-lover&#8217;s recipe for those celebratory peas<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Imma Adamu, a renowned Black food blogger at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.africanbites.com\/\"><b>Immaculate Bites<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, wrote this about the traditional New Year&#8217;s dish<\/span><b>: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Hoppin&#8217; John is a hearty and soul-warming delicacy . . .Black-eyed peas were first cultivated in North Africa and eventually became popular worldwide. Then, they arrived in the southern U.S. in the 17th century. Southerners believe eating black-eyed peas on New Year&#8217;s Day brings good luck and many other beautiful things. They associate them with prosperity as the beans resemble pennies and coins.&#8221; Here&#8217;s Adamu&#8217;s recipe:<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>Southern Black-Eyed Peas <\/b>(<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hoppin&#8217; John)<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><em>Recipe by Imma Adamu \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/www.africanbites.com\/\">Immaculate Bites<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><b>Prep Time: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2 hours; <\/span><b>Cook Time: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">50 minutes; <\/span><b>Servings: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Ingredients<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 pound (453g) black-eyed peas<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4-5 thick slices <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.africanbites.com\/oven-baked-bacon-2\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bacon,<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> chopped<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5 ounces smoked sausage or turkey, diced (about 1 cup)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 large onion, diced<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 stalk celery, diced<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2-3 teaspoons <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.africanbites.com\/how-to-mince-garlic\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">garlic,<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> minced<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 optional jalapeno, minced (can replace with \u00bc teaspoon cayenne)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2 teaspoons fresh thyme, minced<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 bay leaf<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1-2 teaspoons <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.africanbites.com\/creole-seasoning\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creole seasoning<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7-8 cups chicken broth<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2 cups (or more) <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.africanbites.com\/southern-style-greens\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">collard greens<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (or you can use kale)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Salt and pepper to taste<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Instructions<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rinse dry black-eyed pea beans, pick through, and discard any foreign objects. Add beans to a large pot and cover with 3-4 inches of cold water. Let sit for 2-3 hours (or overnight).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a large, heavy saut\u00e9 pan, saute chopped bacon until brown and crispy (4-5 minutes), then add sausage and saute for 2-3 more minutes. Remove bacon and sausage mixture, and set aside.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Throw in the onions, celery, garlic, jalapenos, thyme, and bay leaf, and saute for 3-5 minutes until the onions are wilted and aromatic.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Then, pour in the chicken broth or water.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Drain the soaked beans, rinse, and place them in the pot. Season with Creole seasoning and salt to taste. Stir and bring to a boil.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reduce heat to a simmer and cook uncovered for about 20 minutes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Toss the collard greens, bacon, and sausage into the pot, and continue cooking for another 10 minutes or more, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender and the broth thickens to your desired texture.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Add more stock or water if the mixture becomes dry and thick. The texture of the beans should be thick and somewhat creamy but not watery.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remove the bay leaf.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taste and adjust seasonings with salt, pepper, and Creole seasoning if needed. Serve over rice and garnish with chopped green onion.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h4><strong>Recipe Variations<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Vegan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: You may omit the meat and replace the chicken broth with vegetable broth. And to make this dish more nutritious, you can add carrots and bell peppers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Crockpot Southern Black-Eyed Pea<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">s: This one is more effortless but equally delicious. Put everything in the crockpot, and you&#8217;ll have your dinner ready in 5-6 hours on high and about 9-10 hours on low. Imagine the things you can accomplish in those waiting hours. \ud83d\ude09<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Tropical Twist: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make these black-eyed peas with bacon and pork creamy and interestingly yummy with coconut milk. And I bet you&#8217;ll love this dish even more.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Tomato: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fresh tomatoes or tomato sauce will also add a nice variation to this Hoppin John recipe. The kick of tangy goodness will surely make your tastebuds happy.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Food, folklore, and family traditions<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1690,"featured_media":63227,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,1332],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-63223","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feeding-the-family","category-holidays-events-traditions-recipes-shopping"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.0 (Yoast SEO v26.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Why We Eat Hoppin\u2019 John on New Year\u2019s Day<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"From black-eyed peas and greens to kites at 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