Making a big ol' pot of hoppin John is New Year's Day tradition in the South and features two good-luck foods to start the new year: pork and legumes. Our version calls for brown basmati rice, so you'll start the year with a healthy whole grain (and because the rice swells as it cooks, it's also thought to boost prosperity). You can substitute 2 cups cooked peas, or thawed frozen peas, if you can't find black-eyed peas. Serve with Quick Collards (due to their color, greens are thought to bring money in the new year) and Skillet Corn Bread with Tomatoes and Sage.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces slab bacon, chopped
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 stalks celery, finely chopped
- 1 carrot, finely chopped
- 1-1/2 cups brown basmati rice
- 6 cups water
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 large can diced tomatoes (28 ounces), drained
- 1-1/2 cups black-eyed peas, cooked
- hot sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Cook bacon over medium-low heat in a Dutch oven 10 minutes, or until the bacon renders its fat. Increase heat to medium. Add onion, celery and carrot, and cook 5 minutes, or until tender. Add rice, and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add water, salt, black pepper, cayenne and bay leaf. Add the tomatoes to the pan. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer 40 minutes. Stir in black-eyed peas. Cover and cook 10 minutes, or until the rice is tender. Remove pan from heat, and let stand, covered, 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Serve with hot sauce, if desired.
Servings: 10
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