Creamy Black Eyed Peas (IP and Stove-top)
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This Hoppin’ John with smoked turkey, creamy black-eyed peas, and a medley of savory sautéed vegetables is a must-make for the New Year. It’s a healthy, symbolic Southern black-eyed peas and rice dish that’s creamy, light, hearty, and, most importantly, delicious.
Hoppin’ John – A New Year’s Southern Tradition
When it comes to New Year’s traditions, Southern black-eyed peas take center stage. Hoppin’ John, a classic Southern dish, has long been considered a symbol of luck and prosperity. The black-eyed peas represent coins, rice symbolizes abundance, and when paired with collard greens (representing cash) and cornbread (symbolizing gold), the dish becomes a complete good luck charm.
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The tradition dates back to the Civil War era and is rooted in African and African American culinary heritage. Eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day is believed to ensure good fortune for the coming year. So, whether you’re looking to embrace tradition or just enjoy a bowl of comforting, creamy black-eyed peas with smoked turkey, this recipe is the perfect choice.
Prepping Your Black-Eyed Peas
Before cooking please pick through your black-eyed peas to remove any damaged beans then off to soaking them. There are two ways you can prepare your beans. See below.
How to Soak Black-Eyed Peas
Soaking black-eyed peas softens them, reduces cooking time, and helps create the creamy texture this dish is known for. Here are two soaking methods to choose from:
- Overnight Soaking: Place your black-eyed peas in a large bowl and cover them with water. Let them soak for at least 8 hours or overnight. Drain and rinse before cooking.
- Quick Soak Method: If you’re short on time, add your black-eyed peas to a pot, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Let them boil for 2 minutes, then remove from heat and let them soak for 1 hour. Drain and rinse before cooking.
Hoppin John Ingredients
First, let’s talk about the main ingredients. These are all healthy options that will keep your heart ticking away and your body feeling great. So, you don’t have to feel guilty when you go back for seconds.
- Smoked Turkey: A lighter, flavorful alternative to ham hocks, smoked turkey adds a rich, smoky depth to the dish. Use pre-made smoked turkey or leftover turkey from the holidays.
- Black-Eyed Peas: The star of the dish! These creamy black-eyed peas not only bring a hearty texture but also carry the symbolism of prosperity.
- Rice: Rice gives the dish its substance, soaking up all the smoky and savory flavors. California White Calrose Rice is my favorite, but any rice works in a pinch.
- Sautéed Vegetables: Onion, garlic, celery, and bell peppers create a savory base and add a delightful texture.
- Seasonings: A flavorful mix of Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, and jalapeño (optional) brings warmth and spice without overwhelming the dish.
- Chicken Stock: Low-sodium chicken stock or Better Than Bouillon Chicken Base is ideal for creating a rich, flavorful base.
- Rice Vinegar: Adds a touch of tang to balance the smoky and savory flavors.
Instant Pot Hoppin John Instructions
Now, it’s time to put the Hoppin’ John together. You can do it all in your Instant Pot to save on dishes and keep all those residual flavors right there in the pot.
- Cook the Rice: Prepare the rice in the Instant Pot or on the stovetop. Once cooked, set it aside.
- Sauté the Vegetables: Use the sauté function on your Instant Pot to cook the onion, garlic, celery, and bell peppers until soft and fragrant.
- Add Ingredients: Add the black-eyed peas, smoked turkey, chicken stock, seasonings, and optional jalapeño. Pressure cook for 50 minutes, then let it naturally release for 15 minutes.
- Smash the Beans: Once cooked, use a fork to mash half the black-eyed peas. This step creates the creamy texture that makes Hoppin’ John so irresistible.
- Combine with Rice: Stir in the cooked rice and mix everything together. Serve hot.
Stove-top Instructions
- Soak the Black-Eyed Peas: Soak the peas overnight, then rinse and drain.
- Cook the Rice: Prepare rice as usual and set it aside.
- Sauté the Vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large pot, then sauté the onion, garlic, celery, and bell peppers until tender.
- Simmer: Add the black-eyed peas, smoked turkey, chicken stock, seasonings, and vinegar. Cover and simmer on low heat for about an hour, or until the peas are tender and the turkey falls off the bone.
- Smash the Beans: Mash half the black-eyed peas to thicken the mixture, then simmer until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Combine with Rice: Stir the cooked rice into the pot and mix well.
What to serve with Black-eyed peas and Rice
Technically, you’re ready to dig right in once you’ve finished the steps above. However, there are a couple sides I feel are pretty much mandatory for a good creamy Hoppin’ John experience. No Southern black-eyed peas dish is complete without its classic accompaniments:
- Collard Greens: Representing money, collard greens are the perfect side to complement Hoppin’ John. Try my Southern-style collard greens recipe.
- Cornbread: Sweet and savory, cornbread pairs wonderfully with creamy black-eyed peas and rice. It soaks up all those rich flavors perfectly. Check out my sweet Southern cornbread recipe.
- Southern Candied Yams
Creamy Hoppin John aka Black-eyed Peas and Rice
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 8 oz dried black-eyed peas
- 1 cup onions minced
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 celery stalk
- 1 green bell pepper or red bell pepper
- 4 cups chicken broth I used Better Than Bouillon
- 2 tbs rice vinegar I used what I had but white vinegar works too
- 1 tbsp cajun seasoning more or less for taste
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder more or less for taste
- 1/2 tsp onion powder more or less for taste
- 1/8 tsp sweet paprika
- 1 jalapeno Only use half of the pepper
- 1 smoked turkey leg
- salt and pepper for taste
- 1 cup white rice Or more if you like a lot of rice. See notes below
Instructions
- Cook one cup of rice. Set aside.
- Press the sauté button on your Instant Pot. Add the olive oil. Once the pot is hot, add the vegetable. Cook until the vegetables are slightly tender.
- Add the chicken broth, seasonings, and black-eyed peas. Stir to combine.
- Next add the turkey leg, bay leaf and jalapeno. Press the pressure cook button and set instant pot timer to 50 minutes. Next, lock the Instant Pot, press the pressure cook button and manual set timer to 50 minutes. Once the cooking cycle has finished and the pot beeps, let it naturally release steam for 15 minutes. Next, turn the steam release knob to vent position to release the remaining steam and pressure. Once the pin drops down, it's now safe to open the lid
- Remove the meat from the bone and place it back into the pot. Hit the saute button and set timer for about 3-4 minutes. Use a fork to smash about half the beans. This will start to thicken the mixture and make it nice and creamy. You can smash more or less depending on your personal preferences but remember that this dish is supposed to be a supple rice dish. It shouldn't be soupy.
- Add more salt and pepper if needed. Fyi, If the black-eyed peas get too thick, you can thin it out with a bit of broth or water. Once you get your desired texture you can turn off the instant pot.
- To serve and for a creamy consistency, add just a small amount of rice to each individual bowl. Top with the beans. Mix to combine. Enjoy!
Notes
Stove-top Instructions
- Soak the black-eyed peas overnight. Rinse and drain. Set to the side.
- Cook one cup of rice, or more if you like a lot of rice.
- Sauté veggies: Add olive oil to a pot over medium high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the celery and onions Sauté the vegetables for a couple of minutes or until the celery is slightly tender. Next add the garlic. Sauté quickly, just until the garlic is fragrant. Make sure not to burn the garlic.
- Seasonings and meat: Next, add the broth, black eyed peas, vinegar and seasonings. Mix to combine. Add the smoked turkey leg, jalapeno (optional) and bay leaf. Bring to a boil over hight heat. Reduce heat to low. Cover with a lid for about an hour or until the beans are tender and the meat is falling off the bone stirring occasionally to prevent the beans from sticking to the pot and checking to make sure there’s enough liquids
- Smash beans: Keep water or broth handy just in case you need to add more liquids to the pot. Remove meat from the bones. Use a fork to smash about half the beans as mentioned right above in the instant pot directions. Simmer until slightly thickened. Remove bay leaf. Add additional salt and pepper and seasoning if you like. Rice: Place rice into individual bowls and top with the beans and rice. Mix to combine
Serving and storage
Nutrition
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