Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

hoppin' john

(6 ratings)
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
J. White Harris
Gallatin, TN

It's traditional in the southern U.S. to eat black-eyed peas on New Year's Day. It's supposed to bring prosperity and good luck in the new year. But this dish is good at any time, not just for the holiday.

Blue Ribbon Recipe

Start the new year with a little luck by having a nice bowl of this Hoppin' John. It's Southern comfort food. Hoppin' John is made from dried beans so it marinates low and slow and builds up an abundance of flavor. This version is perfectly seasoned with garlic, onion, and, of course, bacon. We liked the little kick to this Hoppin' John recipe. The beans are mixed with rice making this a very filling meal.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(6 ratings)
yield 4 to 6
prep time 10 Min
cook time 3 Hr 10 Min
method Stove Top

Ingredients For hoppin' john

  • 1-1/4 c
    dried black-eyed peas
  • 4 c
    water
  • 1-1/2 c
    chopped onion
  • 3 clove
    garlic, minced
  • 1/2 tsp
    black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp
    crushed red pepper
  • 1
    bay leaf
  • 8 oz
    ham hock or salt pork
  • 8 oz
    chopped smoked ham or bacon
  • 1 c
    uncooked white rice
  • tabasco sauce, to taste
  • salt and pepper, to taste

How To Make hoppin' john

  • Black-eyed peas and water in a pot.
    1
    Add the black-eyed peas and water to a pot over high heat.
  • Cooked black-eyed peas sitting on the stove.
    2
    Bring to a boil; cover the pot and boil for two minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside for 1 hour.
  • Onion, garlic, black pepper, crushed red pepper, bay leaf, and ham hock added to black-eyed peas.
    3
    Place the pot back over medium-high heat and add the onion, garlic, black pepper, crushed red pepper, bay leaf, and ham hock or salt pork.
  • Stirring ingredients together.
    4
    Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
  • Stirring in bacon.
    5
    Stir in the ham or bacon and simmer 1 more hour, uncovered. Stir frequently.
  • Preparing the rice.
    6
    Meanwhile, prepare the rice as directed on the package.
  • Stirring in the rice.
    7
    Remove the ham hock or salt pork and the bay leaf from the pot and discard. Stir in the cooked rice.
  • Stirring in tabasco sauce, salt, and pepper.
    8
    Stir in Tabasco sauce, salt, and pepper, to taste. Serve with cornbread.
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