Healthy Hoppin’ John (Black-Eyed Peas and Rice)
This post may contain affiliate links. Read the full disclosure here
This healthy hoppin’ John recipe gets a meatless reboot. Start the new year off right with a healthified update to an old southern classic.
A soul food staple, Hoppin John is a black-eyed pea and rice dish made with smoked meat, onions, and peppers. Traditionally black-eyed peas are served on New Year’s Day with collard greens and cornbread. My grandma always had a pot going on New Year’s Eve for good luck in the new year. Most likely we would end up having fried fish and steamed potatoes if New Year fell on an off workday for her.
I didn’t grow up eating hoppin’ John. My grand’s black-eyed peas were sans rice. But learning different recipes throughout the years lead me across different versions of the New Years’ staple. My own culinary evolution led me to create a lightened up version of the dish.
A Healthier New Year’s Day Tradition
Healthy hoppin’ John ingredients are black-eyed peas, rice, peppers, onions, and spices. In the traditional recipe, some sort of smoked meat was used to flavor the dish. So, in wanting to make this recipe healthier I opted to remove the meat but keep the smoked flavor. To achieve the smoked meat flavor I used ham bouillon. It adds the bacony taste that you would expect in this dish.
What to Eat With Hoppin’ John
To be honest, I never knew the significance people gave to foods other than black-eyed peas eaten on New Years’. For sure, I knew that peas symbolized good luck and prosperity in the new year. According to an article that I read the peas represent coins. It goes on further to explain that collard greens represent dollars, cornbread gold, and tomatoes good health! Check out my recipes for Golden Sweet Cornbread and Spicy Collard Greens with Bacon.
Healthy Hoppin’ John (Black Eyed Peas and Rice)
Ingredients
- 3 c water
- 15 oz can black eyed peas rinsed and drained
- 1/2 c long grain rice
- 1/2 c yellow onion
- 1/2 c diced green pepper
- 1/2 c diced red pepper
- 1/2 c diced yellow pepper
- 1/2 c diced orange pepper
- 4 cloves garlic thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 1/2 tbsp ham base
- 1 tsp celery salt
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes optional
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, peppers, and garlic. Sauté until the veggies begin to soften. Next, add the black eyed peas, ham bouillon, celery salt, thyme, and red pepper flakes if using; stir well.
- Let the pot simmer for 3-5 minutes for the flavors to concentrate. Once the vegetables and peas darken slightly, stir in the rice followed by the water. Raise the heat to medium-high, stir in the water and bring it to a boil.
- Once the rice is boiling give it a good stir, and cover. Allow it to cook for 15-20 minutes or until the water is absorbed.
Hi, I will be trying this for the first time with my husband who is trying to eat healthy and lose weight. I’ll be sure to let you know how it turns out. Thanks for sharing this recipe with us!