Hoppin John Recipe Wellplated Com

A savory, smoky mix of black-eyed peas, rice, and greens, Hoppin’ John is a traditional New Year’s Day meal in the South. It’s also easy to make, richly flavored, and, if you follow this particular healthy vegetarian Hoppin’ John recipe, includes every food group in a single pot. Now, I will not pretend this is a traditional Southern Hoppin’ John recipe. This particular version is made without pork. That’s right, Hoppin’ John without bacon, ham, or sausage (!). I’d apologize to the skeptics, but considering how tasty it turned out, and that it can be on your table in minutes instead of hours (like these other 30-minute recipe wonders), I’m hoping you’ll just trust me and try this entirely vegan and vegetarian adaptation. With oodles of healthy veggies, protein-packed beans, and whole-grain brown rice, this dish will nourish you from the inside out and start your New Year’s Day off right.

What Does Hoppin’ John Mean?

Hoppin’ John is a simple but rich pea, rice, and pork dish sometimes called Carolina Peas and Rice. While there are several debated meanings of the actual words “Hoppin’ John,” the most commonly accepted explanation is that it is a corruption of the French phrase pois à pigeon, which means “pigeon peas.” Like much else about this recipe, however, plenty of people disagree with that idea too. My conclusion: We will always be debating why it is called Hoppin’ John (and Eggs in Purgatory). Let’s do so over a shared plate of this fragrant, soul-satisfying meal, shall we?

The Easiest Vegetarian Hoppin’ John

Seeking a Hoppin’ John recipe that would be healthy and weeknight-friendly, I took a few departures from the traditional version to create a vegetarian version that has the spirit of the original but with a shorter prep time and a more complete nutritional profile. (Don’t miss these other vegetarian recipe favorites.)

The Ingredients

Vegetables. Bell peppers, celery, and carrots make this dish colorful and delicious. Each one has its own unique health benefits and adds texture.Spices. While this is not a spicy Hoppin’ John recipe, the smoked paprika, chili powder, and cayenne pepper make this dish ultra flavorful. A generous spoonful of smoked paprika offers the same addictive, smoky flavor as bacon. YUM!

Kale. Collard greens are swapped for kale in this version of the recipe. It cooks more quickly and has oodles of nutritional benefits.

Black-Eyed Peas. Despite their name, black-eyed peas are not peas (tricky!). They belong to a family called “pulses,” a group that includes other stellar healthy ingredients such as chickpeas, lentils, dry peas, and many beans. In addition to their ties to good fortune, black-eyed peas are healthy. They’re rich in fiber and protein.

Fire-Roasted Tomatoes. Smoky, deep flavor in the convenience of a can.Brown Rice. In place of the more classic Carolina gold rice, I used whole-grain brown rice in this recipe. (This Lemon Rice is another favorite rice recipe.)

The Directions

Storage Tips

To Store. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days.To Reheat. Rewarm this recipe in a Dutch oven on the stovetop over medium-low heat.To Freeze. Store leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe storage container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

Dutch Oven. The MVP in my lineup of kitchen cookware.Sharp Chef’s Knife. Ideal for recipes that require lots of chopping.Measuring Spoons. Measure all your spices with ease.

Every time I make this recipe, I feel fortunate to have such a handy, healthy dinner in my back pocket. I hope it leaves you feeling lucky too!

Hoppin’ John with Sausage. Add some sliced andouille sausage to the pan with the vegetables for a Cajun Hoppin’ John recipe spin.Hoppin’ John with Bacon. Fry up some chopped bacon, then remove to a plate. Saute the vegetables in a few teaspoons of the reserved fat. Then return the bacon to the recipe just before serving. Hoppin’ John with Ham. Have any leftover holiday ham? Stir in a cup of chopped ham to the recipe, along with the black-eyed peas.