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 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

1. Sauté the vegetables.

2. Stir in the spices.

3. Add the kale. Cook until wilted, then add the peas and tomatoes. Serve with rice. ENJOY!

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.

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:

Side Dishes

Roasted Broccoli and Carrots

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Side Dishes

Sautéed Brussels Sprouts

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Seafood

Blackened Salmon

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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!

Review Save Recipe SavedPrint

Hoppin’ John

4.89 from 27 votes

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

This easy Hoppin' John recipe is vegetarian twist on a traditional Southern dish. With black-eyed peas, kale and tomatoes, it's colorful, filling and delicious.

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Prep: 20 minutes mins

Cook: 20 minutes mins

Total: 40 minutes mins

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Servings: 6 servings; about 8 cups

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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 drained and rinsed (about 3 1/2 cups)
• 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.
  

Video

Notes

• 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.

Nutrition

Serving: 1(of 6), about 1 1/2 cups with 1/2 prepared brown riceCalories: 278kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 14gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gPotassium: 749mgFiber: 14gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 9886IUVitamin C: 72mgCalcium: 130mgIron: 5mg

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