Hop ‘n John (Good Luck Pea Dish)

Happy New Year! What are you eating to bring in this day? For me, New Year’s dinner never wavers and I’m eating a traditional black-eyed pea salad to bring in the new year.

There are many variations on Hop ‘n John. Field peas or Sea Island Red Peas, for instance, are sometimes substituted for black-eyed peas in Alabama, South Carolina and Georgia, and the peas are often cooked with a ham hock  for added flavor. I generally toss my peas with chopped fried bacon for a smokey flavor and use the bacon fat to sauté the onion and celery. Many folks cook the peppers  with the peas, but I prefer the bright color, crisp texture and fresh flavor of uncooked peppers. Chopped tomatoes are also a typical addition to Hop ‘n John.

There is an art to cooking dry beans and the main ingredient is time. Not active time on the cook’s part, but time, nevertheless: time to soak, time to cook and time to allow the beans to sit in their cooking liquid absorbing all of those savory flavors. Past years I’ve saved time by substituting frozen black eyed peas for dried,  but this year, all I have is time.

On New Year’s Day, I double my chance for fortune by serving Hoppin’ John with a side of turnip greens or collards, the greens are said to symbolize dollar bills. I  imagine there will be quite a run on peas and greens this year at the neighborhood markets, especially in this economy! Growing up we called black-eyed peas paired with  greens, “Half and Half”. This must be a regional Alabama specialty, as a web search only provides links to the the dairy product.

I  enjoy Hoppin’ John liberally doused with pepper vinegar; the tangy heat of the vinegar is a delicious foil for the smoky, creaminess of the beans.  If you can’t find pepper vinegar, you may improvise by tossing the cooked beans with chopped hot peppers and additional cider vinegar.  I also enjoy the contrast of simply prepared long-grained rice with the spicy dish.

Make a double-batch to insure you have leftover Hoppin’ John, which is then referred to as “Skippin’ Jenny” the next day.  Eating leftover beans demonstrates frugality to the good-luck God’s, insuring them you are sincere and deserving of prosperity.

Best served with an heirloom rice, such as Carolina Gold.