Diet: Gluten-Free, Vegetarian, Paleo, Dairy Free, Vegan
Eating black eyed peas on New Year's Day will bring good luck for the coming year. Black eyed peas have been a symbol of luck and fortune, all the way back to the days of the Pharaohs in Egypt. The New Year's superstition is that those who eat black eyed peas, an inexpensive and modest food, show their humility and save themselves from the wrath of the heavens. Eating the black eyed peas with collards or other hearty greens gives you even more luck, as the peas symbolize coins and the collards the green of paper money. For Southern-style black eyed peas and greens, add some pork to the pot of peas.
Ingredients
- 1 medium onion, diced (approximately ½ cup)
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 2 bunches collard greens
- 1 Tablespoon cider or malt vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 pound black eyed peas (dried)
Directions
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Cooking greens: Rinse collard greens. Remove and discard stems and center ribs from leaves. Cut remaining leaves into 1-inch pieces. In a 4 quart pot, heat 1 Tablespoon of olive oil over low heat. Add onion and sauté until tender, 5 minutes. Stir in the greens (with any water still clinging to them) and ¼ teaspoon salt. Cover and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the greens are soft and tender, 10-15 minutes. Once the greens are cooked, stir in 1 Tablespoon cider vinegar or malt vinegar.
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Cooking black eyed peas: Soaking is not essential for black eyed peas, but cooking time can be shortened if they are soaked in hot water. Place dried peas in a pot, cover with water, and bring to a boil for 2-3 minutes. Remove pot from heat and allow to stand for 60-90 minutes. Drain water and replace with fresh, cold water for cooking - or if you skipped the hot-soaking step, just rinse and add cold water. Place on stove and bring to a boil in a pot with a lid. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer, tilting the lid slightly to allow steam to escape, and leave to cook for up to an hour, or until tender. Add salt, to taste, after cooking. Serve peas and collards separately or mixed. (1 pound of black eyed peas, or 2 cups, makes 5-6 cups of cooked peas.)