Celebrate with Luck: Black Eyed Peas for New Year's Eve and Day

black eyed peas new years: photo by Serious Eats

Every year my father would bring in the New Year with black-eyed peas. They are said to bring good luck and prosperity for the upcoming year, I for one am not going to argue with that!

Introduction:

Hey there, party planners and food enthusiasts! As we gear up to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new, it's time to talk about a simple yet meaningful tradition that might just bring a little extra luck to your New Year's celebrations. We're talking about black-eyed peas – a classic, down-to-earth way to usher in good vibes for the upcoming year. So, let's keep it easy, breezy, and dive into why black-eyed peas for New Year's Eve or Day is more than just a tasty tradition.

Why Black Eyed Peas?

Black-eyed peas have been sliding onto plates during New Year's for ages, and there's a reason for it. Many believe that chowing down on these little legumes can attract good fortune and prosperity. And who doesn't want a bit of that to kick off the new year, right?

New Year's Eve or Day: What's the Scoop?

If you've ever wondered about the best time to serve up these lucky peas, the answer is simple – both! Whether you're hosting a New Year's Eve bash or planning a laid-back New Year's Day brunch, black-eyed peas fit the bill. They're versatile, symbolic, and a delicious addition to any celebration.

Cooking Up Some Luck: Easy Black-Eyed Pea Recipe

Now, let's on to the delicious black-eyed pea recipe that will become a tradition for years to come. The addition of sausage and lots of veggies make this my favorite black-eyed pea recipe!

Yield: 8-10

Author: Lauren Lane

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Black-Eyed Peas and Sausage

Every year my father would bring in the New Year with black-eyed peas. They are said to bring good luck and prosperity for the upcoming year, I for one am not going to argue with that! This soup is hearty, rich and healthy. It starts off with olive oil, sausage, a ton of veggies, and then just let it simmer away. I serve it over rice and with some sweet cornbread…and mmmm. So good.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 12 oz. package of andouille sausage-sliced (or other good quality smoked sausage)
• ¼ lb. pancetta or slab bacon-chopped
• 1-2 leeks (white part only) finely chopped
• 1 large onion-finely chopped
• 2 ribs celery-finely chopped
• 1 green pepper-chopped
• 1 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
• 3 cloves of garlic-minced
• 1 bunch of kale or collard greens-stems removed and leaves roughly chopped
• 3 cans of Black-Eyed Peas-rinsed and drained
• 4-6 cups chicken stock
• 1 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes
• 2 bay leaves
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• 4 cups cooked rice
• Chopped green onions and Tabasco sauce for serving

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add sausage and pancetta or bacon and cook until brown on both sides
2. Add leeks, onion, celery, green pepper, red pepper flakes and garlic. Cook, stirring and scraping up browned bits from the bottom of the pan until ingredients are soften and lightly brown. About 10 minutes.
3. Stir in kale or collard greens and cook until completely wilted
4. Add Black-Eyed peas, chicken stock, diced tomatoes and bay leaves. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and cook for 15 minutes. If you’d like it thick, simmer uncovered until you reach your desired consistency.
5. To serve: Ladle soup mixture over cooked rice and sprinkle with green onions and Tabasco to taste.
6. Soup can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator up to 5 days.

Notes

-Serve with cornbread and honey butter. Simply mix honey into softened butter to create a delicious spread

-Use any type of rice, sausage and greens that you like

-Make a day or two ahead for easy entertaining

-Serve with a Bloody Mary bar for a fun New Year’s Day gathering

-If soup gets too thick, simply add water to desired consistency

Nutrition Facts

Calories

395

Fat (grams)

25.41 g

Sat. Fat (grams)

7.09 g

Carbs (grams)

58.49 g

Fiber (grams)

9.51 g

Net carbs

49.01 g

Sugar (grams)

10.32 g

Protein (grams)

25.15 g

Sodium (milligrams)

772.18 mg

Cholesterol (grams)

50.42 mg

Varies based on the number of servings and type of sausage you use.

© Lauren Lane

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