Hoppin’ John

Could anyone else use a little luck this year? How about a fast, healthy dinner? If your answer to either question is a resounding yes, then this Hoppin’ John recipe is for you!

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 meal.

Now, I am not going to pretend that this is a traditional Southern style Hoppin’ John recipe.

BUT considering how tasty it turned out, that it’s filled with healthy ingredients, and that it can be on your table in minutes instead of hours, I’m feeling very comfortable with this weeknight adaptation.

With oodles of colorful veggies, protein-packed beans, and whole-grain brown rice, this dish will warm you and nourish you from the inside out.

What Does Hoppin’ John Mean?

Hoppin’ John is a simple but rich pea, rice, and pork dish often 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. 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 more complete nutritional profile.

The Ingredients

• Vegetables. Bell peppers, celery, and carrots make this dish exceptionally 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 at all (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.

The Directions

1. Sauté the vegetables and garlic in oil.

2. Stir in the spices. Add the kale.

3. Add the peas and tomatoes.

4. Stir and cook until heated through.

5. Serve with rice and ENJOY!

What to Serve with Hoppin’ John

With whole grains, veggies, and protein, this recipe is a great healthy meal on its own. Or pair it with one of these stellar sides.

Salads

Arugula Salad

10 mins

Side Dishes

Roasted Broccoli and Carrots

35 mins

Side Dishes

Sautéed Brussels Sprouts

20 mins

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.

The Best Dutch Oven

A high-quality Dutch oven is a worthy investment. It will last you a lifetime and is useful in SO many different recipes.

Get on AMazon

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!

Did you make this recipe?

Let me know what you thought!

Leave a rating below in the comments and let me know how you liked the recipe.

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ReviewSave to FavoritesPrint

Hoppin' John

5 from 15 votes

This easy vegetarian Hoppin John is a twist on traditional Southern style recipes. Made with rice, black eyed peas, and greens. Great for New Year's or anytime you need a fast, healthy dinner.

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Prep: 20 mins

Cook: 20 mins

Total: 40 mins

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Servings: 6 servings; about 8 cups

ReviewSave to FavoritesPrint

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large green bell pepper diced
• 1 large red bell pepper diced
• 3 stalks celery
• 4 medium carrots peeled and diced (about 10 ounces)
• 3 large cloves garlic minced (about 1 tablespoon)
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper plus additional to taste
• 1 small bunch kale trimmed and chopped (about 8 ounces)
• 2 cans (15-ounces) black-eyed peas about 3 1/2 cups, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (14-ounces) fire-roasted diced tomatoes
• Prepared brown rice for serving
• Chopped green onions optional for serving

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Instructions

 

• Heat the oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the red and green bell peppers, celery, carrots, and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown, about 8 minutes.
• Stir in the smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and cayenne. Cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Working in small handfuls, stir in the kale, stirring after each addition to let it wilt slightly before adding another handful. Cook and stir until you can fit all of the kale in the pot.
• Add the black-eyed peas and tomatoes with their juices. Stir and continue to cook until heated through, about 2 additional minutes. Taste and add additional salt or spices as desired. Serve hot with rice and a sprinkle of green onion.

Nutrition

Serving: 1(of 6), about 1 1/2 cups with 1/2 prepared brown riceCalories: 290kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 15gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPotassium: 832mgFiber: 13gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 13469IUVitamin C: 93mgCalcium: 150mgIron: 5mg

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