Hopping John and New Years Day

A Proper Start to the New Year included Hopping John - black eyed peas and rice. It's the dish of good luck and fortune on New Years Day. Other traditions were cabbage (because it is green like money) or fish because they always move forward. 

This is our favorite Hopping John recipe because... it's easy. :)

Ingredients

• 1 pound smoked beef sausage, cut into bite-size pieces

• 1 small onion, chopped

• 3 (15 ounce) cans black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained

• 2 (10.75 ounce) cans low sodium chicken stock

• 1 cup water

• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste

• 2 cups uncooked instant rice

Directions

1. Place sausage and onion into a large saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir until sausage begins to brown, about 10 minutes.

    

2. Stir in black-eyed peas, chicken stock, water, and cayenne pepper, and bring to a boil. Stir in rice; cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender, 20 to 25 minutes.

Enjoy and may Good Fortune find you in 2026!

Nutrition Facts