Black Eyed Peas for luck is a Southern tradition that goes back over one hundred years. Serve black eyed peas on New Year’s Day to ensure luck, fortune, and prosperity throughout the year. Include cornbread, such as Cheddar Cornbread Muffins for good luck in the form of gold.
Dirty Harry: …you’ve got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky?
We make these every year for New Year’s Day, and often more throughout the year. While I’m not so sure about fortune or prosperity, and I’ve never found any gold, I certainly feel lucky every time I get to eat it. I hope you do too!
Black Eyed Pease for Luck Recipe
Black Eyed Peas for Luck!
Equipment
- large dutch oven
- cutting board
- kitchen knife
- slotted spoon
Ingredients
- 4 slice thick cut bacon – cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 onion – finely chopped
- ¼ cup celery – finely chopped
- ¼ cup green bell pepper – finely chopped
- ¼ cup red bell pepper – finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic – minced
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 32 ounce canned black eyed peas – 2 16-oz cans
- ¼ cup flat leaf parsley – chopped
Instructions
- Gather and prepare ingredients.
- In a large dutch oven, or stock pot, add bacon and cook until well browned.4 slice thick cut bacon
- Add onions, celery, and bell peppers then sauté until soft. Add garlic, and sauté for 1 minute more.1 onion, ¼ cup celery, ¼ cup green bell pepper, ¼ cup red bell pepper, 1 clove garlic
- Add chicken stock, thyme and bay leaves, and bring to a boil.4 cups chicken stock, 1 tsp dried thyme, 2 bay leaves
- Add black eyed peas, and reduce to a simmer. Simmer for thirty minutes.32 ounce canned black eyed peas, 1/4 cup flat leaf parsley
- Add chopped parsley and serve. Optionally add a hunk of cornbread.
Notes
PRIVATE NOTES
Nutrition
More Information
Tips
Dried Peas
If you want to make black eyed peas from scratch using dried peas, make sure to soak the peas overnight. Place the dried peas in a large bowl and cover with just enough water to submerge them. Let the peas soak overnight at room temperature. Drain the peas the following day, and use them in exactly the same way as you would use canned peas.
Canned Peas
For convenience, canned peas work great. Some canned peas will include other flavorings, such as bacon or jalapeños. Make sure you read the label so you get what you want. Plain black eyed peas work best, in my opinion. You can always add other flavorings while you cook, if that is what you want.
Start with pork fat
Use unflavored bacon or pork fat, such as salt pork or fatback to start your beans. When the fat renders, it will add richness, depth of flavor, and body to the broth.
Other Prosperous Foods
Greens
Serve black eyed peas with greens, such as collards, mustard, or turnip greens. The peas represent coins and the greens represent paper money.
Cornbread
Include cornbread to represent gold.
Stewed Tomatoes
Add stewed tomatoes to represent health and wealth.
Coins
One tradition calls for adding a shiny coin to the pot, such as a penny or a dime. Add the coin to the pot just before serving. The lucky person receiving the coin will be especially prosperous in the coming year. Make sure you wash the coin with soapy water first! I can’t imagine a more filthy thing to add to your beans than actual money.
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