Hoppin’ John: Smoky Southern Stew with Black-Eyed Peas and Carolina Gold Rice
Hoppin’ John is a classic Southern Stew. Traditionally made using ham or bacon for smoky flavor, this vegan version uses smoked paprika. Black-eyed peas are stewed with the Southern trinity of green bell peppers, onion, and celery. Served over whole grain Carolina Gold rice, this is a satisfying, plant-based meal.
Black-Eyed Peas: A Southern New Year’s Tradition
Black-eyed peas are a New Year’s Day tradition in New Orleans. The beans look like coins after cooking, meant to bring about prosperity in the coming year. Some Creole enthusiasts recommend eating exactly 365 peas, one for each day of the year. Or, they’ll hide a clean penny in the pot. Whoever finds the penny is said to find good luck in the new year.
However you choose to enjoy, make a big batch of these for a healthy, happy year!
For more fun New Year’s Food Traditions read: 7 New Years Food Traditions from Around the World
You’ll love this healthy, plant-based Hoppin’ John Black-Eyed Pea Stew recipe! It is:
- Hearty and satisfying
- Has smoky, spicy heat
- Freezer-friendly
- Budget-friendly
- One-Pot Dinner
- Perfect for Weekend Meal Prep, Pot-Lucks, and Entertaining a Crowd
Chef Katie’s Healthy Plant-Based Cooking Tips for Hoppin’ John Southern Black-Eyed Pea Stew with Rice:
Using canned or pre-cooked beans: You can substitute the uncooked black-eyed peas for 1 (15-ounce) can cooked peas, drained and rinse. You can also use frozen black-eyed peas. Using these pre-cooked beans will reduce your total cooking time greatly. Instead of 1 hour to stew the beans, cook for 20 minutes, until all of the flavors come together.
Pre-Soaking Black-Eyed Peas: Black-eyed peas are much like lentils. Pre-soaking isn’t necessary. However, this step will reduce your cooking time and help make the peas more digestible. To presoak the black-eyed peas, cover them with a few inches of water for at least 6 hours. Drain and rinse before using in this recipe.
The Southern “Holy Trinity”: In Southern, Creole cooking, chefs refer to the holy trinity: celery, onion, and green bell pepper. Similar to the mire poix found in French cooking, these three ingredients are the base for many soups, stews, and sauces.
Carolina Gold Rice: Carolina Gold Rice is an American long-grain rice. If you can’t find a whole grain, brown rice version of this ingredient, you can substitute with another long-grain brown rice. You want long-grain rice because it is fluffy and will absorb the sauces from the Hoppin’ John Stew. Double-check the cooking time on the rice package to ensure it will be done before the Hoppin’ John.
Recipe Inspiration: Inspiration for this recipe comes fromThe Glory of Southern Cookingby James Villas. As Villas explains, hoppin’ John is eaten on New Year’s Day because black-eyed peas look like coins and are considered lucky.
Control the Spice: If you prefer more spice, add chipotle to the black-eyed peas. You can also use 1 jalapeno, minced. Add it when you saute the onions and celery.
Slow Cooker or Instapot: For the Slow-Cooker, combine everything and set on Low for 6 to 8 hours. For the Instapot, sauté the onions and bell pepper first, then add the black-eyed peas and tomatoes. Choose
Other Uses: This stew can be transformed for a variety of healthy dinners. Use as a topping over cooked whole wheat macaroni for a Southern Mac. Pour over baked tortilla chips for Creole loaded nachos. Or serve over cooked quinoa and steamed kale for a Hearty Black-Eyed Pea Creole Bowl.
Soaking Tip: Dried beans, peas, and lentils will double to triple in size after soaking. Keep this in mind when scaling recipes. 1/2 cup dried beans yields about 1 cup cooked beans 
Black-Eyed peas are meant to symbolize good luck in the new year. 
The Southern trinity is green bell pepper, onion, and celery. This is the base for many Southern Cajun soups, stews, and sauces
Hoppin’ John: Southern Stewed Black-Eyed Peas and Rice
- Medium
- Servings: 6
- Yield: about 6 cups
- Ready In: 80 minutes
If you love this recipe, you’ll also love: Peppery Southern Grits with Sweet Heat Tomato Jam, Southern Collard Dolmades with Sweet Potato Puree, Gluten-Free Cornbread, and 4 Ingredient Southern Style Sweet Vegan Corn Pudding,
Hoppin’ John: Southern Stewed Black-Eyed Peas and Rice
Ingredients
- 1 cup Caroline Gold long-grain rice
- 1 medium onion diced
- 3 stalks celery diced
- 1 green bell pepper seeded and diced
- 1 tablespoons smoked paprika powder
- 1/8 teaspoon red chili flakes
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cups raw black-eyed peas (8 ounces) or about 2 cups cooked, rinsed
- 3 cups water
- 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes
Instructions
- To cook the rice: Combine the rice and 2 cups of water in a small pot. Cover, bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to low and simmer until tender, 20-25 minutes. Turn the heat off and keep covered. Before serving, fluff with a fork.
- To make the Hoppin’ John Black-Eyed Peas: In a medium pot, combine the onion, celery, green bell pepper, smoked paprika, red chili flake, and ½ cup of the water. Cover and sweat over medium heat until onion is soft and paprika is aromatic, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another 2 minutes, until soft. Add the black-eyed peas and water. Cover and simmer until peas are tender, about 1 hour. Add the tomatoes, cover, and cook 5 more minutes, until the flavors come together.
- Taste to check seasoning. Enjoy!
- Enjoy over rice, cornbread, or simply dive in with a spoon.
Nutrition Facts
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings 4.0 | |
| Amount Per Serving | |
| calories 289 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat 2 g | 3 % |
| Saturated Fat 0 g | 0 % |
| Monounsaturated Fat 0 g | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g | |
| Trans Fat 0 g | |
| Cholesterol 0 mg | 0 % |
| Sodium 324 mg | 14 % |
| Potassium 574 mg | 16 % |
| Total Carbohydrate 60 g | 20 % |
| Dietary Fiber 11 g | 44 % |
| Sugars 6 g | |
| Protein 11 g | 21 % |
| Vitamin A | 17 % |
| Vitamin C | 68 % |
| Calcium | 22 % |
| Iron | 13 % |
| * The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA. | |
Shopping and Gear List
- Geechie Boy Mill Carolina Gold Rice
- Black Eyed Peas Heirloom Seeds – Non GMO
- Frontier Ground Bottle, Chipotle, 2.15 Ounce
- Frontier Co-op Organic Chili Powder Blend, 1 Pound Bulk Bag
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