Lucky Peas for New Year, Once Again

It's that time again when we're supposed to get good luck for the year to come by eating black-eyed peas with collard greens (the color of money) on the eve or day. So here yet again is my own recipe for a vegetarian Hoppin' John that puts the collards with the rice and beans inside of as a side. It uses smoked paprika to give that smokey flavor normally imparted by ham. This is not to say you can't add your own ham bone to the beans while they cook... Nobody ever said hamming it up made you unlucky.

You can serve this with eggs or a grit souffle or a corn tart or as the center of attraction perhaps with a side of deep fried okra. Or you can, as I have, contribute it to a pot luck party.

And by the way, in Nepal black eyed peas--because of that third eye in their middle-- are called Bodhi, a very holy Buddhist word that means awake, aware, empathetic.

Happy New Year Everyone! May the Fork be With You!

My Hoppin John Recipe for New Year

For 6-8

½ lb. black-eyed peas, soaked overnight and drained

2-3 tbsp corn oil, enough to cover the bottom of your pot

1 lg onion, peeled and diced

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 sm Poblano pepper, roasted and diced
1 tsp chipotle chili powder

½ tsp smoked paprika

¼ tsp ground cayenne

2 celery ribs, diced

4 cups vegetable broth

½-1 cup water

½ bunch collard greens, chopped

1-1½ cups rice (depending on how thick you want this)*

Salt and black pepper to your taste

*I find using short-grained paella rice better than long grain basmati for this dish.

Heat oil in a heavy gauge casserole or stock pot. Add onion and sauté over medium heat until onion is soft and translucent, maybe 5 minutes.

Add garlic and Poblano pepper, stirring to blend.  Sauté 1 minute.

Add spices and celery. Sauté 2 minutes. (Add oil if necessary)

Add broth, water and black-eyed peas. Bring to a boil, lower heat to simmer, cover and cook 45 minutes.

Add collard greens, rice, salt and pepper. Cover and continue to simmer another 20-25 minutes, checking from time to time that you have enough liquid. Add water by the ¼ cupful if you need it.

Taste for seasoning, adjust if necessary, and serve with freshly chopped cilantro leaves.