In the South, black-eyed peas are eaten on New Year’s Day and are thought to bring prosperity. Folklore dates this tradition back to the Civil War and General Sherman thinking this “animal food” wasn’t good enough for his Union soldiers. When the soldiers raided Confederate supplies, they left behind the salted pork and peas since they didn’t think they could be consumed.
The Confederates considered themselves lucky that they had that to eat during the winter and that’s how black-eyed peas became known as lucky. Other stories say that harvests don’t grow in the winter, but black-eyed peas do. Farmers were lucky to have the peas to get them through the winter.
Whichever tale is true, there is one thing I know for sure. I love black-eyed peas. I grew up eating them on New Year’s Day and can’t imagine kicking off the new year without them. Set yourself up for a lucky 2019, too, by preparing a special New Year’s Day meal for your family.
Andy Rubini (Plantation, FL) Black-Eyed Peas Dip is a great snack to serve while watching the Tournament of Roses parade or college bowl games. The longer this sits the better it tastes so it’s something you can make the night before.
The dressing is what makes this dip special. It’s tangy from the balsamic dressing, but a bit sweet thanks to the sugar. It soaks into the beans, peppers, onions, and tomatoes to make a fantastic dip. Get the tortilla chips ready for snacking!
Looking for a lunch recipe? Take a look at Robin Lieneke’s (Chamois, MO) Black-Eyed Peas and Little Smokies With Cabbage recipe. “This is the perfect New Year’s Day lunch,” thinks Robin. “The broth it makes is so tasty you will want it throughout the year.”
Honestly, what’s better than ringing in the new year with a super easy Crock Pot meal? It actually has three ingredients that are thought to be lucky for New Year’s Day… pork, black-eyed peas and cabbage. Little smokies add a slight smokiness to the dish that I really enjoyed. Served with cornbread as Robin suggests, this is quite the New Year’s Day meal.
“I like this recipe for New Years Day,” says Annette Rinehart (Austin, TX) of her New Years Black-Eyed Pea and Cabbage Soup. “The peas for good luck and the cabbage for money; but this really is good for any day.”
Quick, easy, and tasty, you’re not going to want to limit this recipe to New Year’s Day only. I really liked the addition of Rotel. You do taste some heat, but not too much. I was a bit concerned that there was no liquid added to the recipe. But as the soup simmered it produced its own liquid. If you want it a bit more soupy, add water or vegetable broth until it suits your preference.
If you have leftover ham, make Cathy Gillespie’s Spicy Black-Eyed Peas. Bake a batch of cornbread to soak up the fantastic pea liquor the recipe creates (it’s a delicacy in the South).
These black-eyed peas are spicy and perfectly salted with a delicious array of veggies and cooked ham. All cooked in one pot, the flavors meld together. Simple and delicious.
“I’ve been cooking some version of this recipe for over 30 years,” shares Blondie Pussycat. “It has evolved, as my taste has changed, but the basic recipe is buried in here.”
Blondie’s New Year’s Day Black-Eye Pea Casserole is really, really good. The nutty flavor of the jasmine rice blends nicely with the fresh veggies and black-eyed peas. I bet someone who does not enjoy black-eyed peas will love this casserole – it’s that good. A nice and hearty New Year’s Day meal!
If you’ve never cooked a black-eyed peas recipe before, definitely try one of these. Hopefully, they’ll bring you and your family luck this year. Happy New Year … and Happy Pinching.