Traditional Southern Hoppin John Recipe

Hoppin John, a traditional southern dish enjoyed each year on New Year’s Day, is made of black-eyed peas, rice, and flavored with pork.

Located in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, the region east of the sand hills to the coast, Folly Beach is where I spent much time and most of my holidays as a child. My grandparents were full-time residents of the small island community just outside of Charleston, SC, and, like a magnet, it pulled us back every chance we got to steal away for a few days.

During the holidays it was a given we would be at Folly, especially to celebrate the New Year. My Nana threw a big New Year’s Day bash every year, with a full spread of traditional southern New Year’s Day fare. I remember fondly the platefuls of fried hog jowls that she began frying early in the day. By the time the plate was piled high with the golden goodness, we could’ve completed a full triple lutz on her well oiled linoleum floor.

The pile of hog jowls was only one of the menu items that graced the table the first day of every year. Collard greens and my personal favorite, Hoppin John, a flavorful blend of black-eyed peas and rice, accented with pork, also shared in the glory on those special days.

Each dish is symbolic: the pork represents progress in the new year; the collards, being green like money, prosperity; then, of course, the Hoppin’ John, for all-around good luck. And sakes alive, I ate my weight in good luck. That’s a lot of good luck, man.

Hoppin’ John is a dish that elevates the most basic ingredients to a place all its own. Deliciously good eats is what it is. If you’ve never enjoyed Hoppin’ John, southern or not, you should give it a go this year. And with my Nana’s recipe you’ll be in good hands. Be sure to let me know how it goes.

Wishing you a Happy New Year full of all things good and tasty! Enjoy!

These favorite recipes would be perfect for New Year’s Day too:

• Ham and Cheese Breakfast Muffins Recipe
• Balsamic Beer Braised Pork Roast Recipe
• Cheddar Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins Recipe
• Uncle Bobby’s Banana Pudding Recipe
• Southern Collard Greens Recipe from Grandbaby Cakes 

Hoppin John Recipe

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Hoppin John Recipe

Yield: about 12 servings

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours

Additional Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 3 hours

A traditional New Year's day southern dish full of flavor.

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Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups dried black-eyed peas (note: there will be peas leftover to serve as a side)
• 8 cups water, divided
• 3 teaspoons salt
• 1 small ham hock (or 1/4 lb. hog jowl)
• 5 slices of thick cut bacon (or hog jowl)
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 cups long-grain white rice, uncooked
• 1 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes

Instructions

1. Over medium heat, place the dried black-eyed peas, 6 cups of water, salt and ham hock. Cook covered over medium heat until tender, about 2-2 1/2 hours.
2. While the peas are cooking, fry the bacon until crisp. Remove bacon, crumble and set aside, reserving the bacon grease.
3. Sauté chopped onion in the bacon grease until softened.
4. Separately, in a large sauce pan, with a tight-fitting lid, add the rice, 2 cups of the the pea liquid, 2 cups of water, 2 cups of the cooked black-eyed peas, sautéed onions, bacon grease, crumbled bacon and red pepper flakes. Cook covered over medium-low heat until rice is done, about 15-20 minutes. If needed add more pea liquid if rice gets too dry.

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