It’s a southern tradition that eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day will bring prosperity to you in the New Year. I figure it’s worth a shot, so I always eat them in one form or another, on January 1st. From Cheesy Black-Eyed Pea Dip and Tex-Mex Black-Eyed Pea Casserole, to Sloppy Black-Eyed Peas and Black-Eyed Pea Salad, here are five versatile ways to eat your lucky black-eyed peas.
Related: 10 Food Traditions for Good Luck in the New Year
Why Should You Eat Black-Eyed Peas on New Year’s Day?
It started in the south, but eating black eyed peas on New Year’s Day is thought to bring prosperity in the New Year. Dried black-eyed peas swell when they cook (symbolizing prosperity), the spinach greens in the dish symbolize money and the pork (bacon) in the dish symbolizes positive motion—because pigs root forward when they’re foraging. Therefore, it’s a tradition to eat something with black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day!
And just for the record, it’s supposed to be BAD luck to do laundry on New Year’s Day. So your best bet is to eat your black-eyed peas and refrain from hanging out in the laundry room.
Related: 7 Foods to Eat for Good Luck on Chinese New Year
Best Black-Eyed Peas Recipes
Shea Goldstein
Black-Eyed Pea Salad: This classic back-eyed pea appetizer combines onion, cucumber, olives, feta cheese and jalapeño (to name a few ingredients), before being tossed in a red wine vinaigrette. It’s just as tasty as it is lucky to eat!
Get the recipe: Black-Eyed Pea Salad
Krista Marshall
Black-Eyed Pea Salsa: A fresh, refreshing dip for tortilla chips or crackers. Serve it as a great party app or light lunch!
Get the recipe: Black-Eyed Pea Salsa
Teresa Blackburn
Black-Eyed Pea Jambalaya: A new twist on a classic creole dish, adding black-eyed peas to this hearty meal is not only genius but lucky!
Get the recipe: Black-Eyed Pea Jambalaya
Sanura Weathers
Black-Eyed Pea and Kale Salad: This flavor packed salad comes with the extra nutritional benefits of kale and a creamy chickpea dressing.
Get the recipe: Black-Eyed Pea and Kale Salad
Shea Goldstein
Chicken, Corn and Black-Eyed Pea Nachos: A tasty twist on a Tex-Mex favorite. Satisfy that nacho craving and bring yourself some luck too.
Get the recipe: Chicken, Corn and Black-Eyed Pea Nachos
Related: 43 Loaded Nacho Recipes
Tex-Mex Black-Eyed Pea Casserole: The whole family will enjoy this comforting meal and while some people soak their black-eyed peas overnight and some slow cook them, this recipe only calls for rinsing them, then boiling for about 30 minutes.
Get the recipe: Tex-Mex Black-Eyed Pea Casserole
Smoky Spiced Black-Eyed Peas with Bacon: A New Year’s Day meal calls for a big pot of simmered black-eyed peas, seasoned with smoked paprika and roasted cumin to enhance (and complement) the smokiness of the bacon, and ground chipotle chili pepper to add a smoky heat.
Get the recipe: Smoky Spiced Black-Eyed Peas with Bacon
Cheesy Black-Eyed Pea Dip: Who doesn’t love a warm, comforting dip? This cheesy black-eyed pea dip is a good one to munch on while watching New Year’s Day football. And if you’re on a low-carb or keto diet (or trying to start the new year on a healthier note), swap the chips for veggie sticks.
Get the recipe: Cheesy Black-Eyed Pea Dip
Sloppy Black-Eyed Peas: Here’s a fun dinner idea using black-eyed peas in the slow cooker. Instead of ground beef or pork used in tradition Sloppy Joes, go the vegetarian route with black-eyed peas piled high on a hamburger bun.
Get the recipe: Sloppy Black-Eyed Peas
Black-Eyed Peas with Sweet Potatoes and Greens: A Southern dish with a healthy vibe, black-eyed peas and sweet potatoes are an ingredient match made in heaven. Eat this with a crusty loaf of bread or solo just as is.
Get the recipe: Black-Eyed Peas with Sweet Potatoes and Greens
Related: The 50 Best Southern Restaurants in America
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