New Year’s Day is almost here, which means it’s time to prepare a good luck tradition to welcome in the next chapter.

USA Today reported black-eyed peas and other lentils symbolize good luck because round foods resemble money and coins. Many believe the symbolic food will bring financial success in the new year and failing to eat it could mean a year of bad luck.

Make sure you go into the New Year with luck on your side by making a delicious pot of black-eyed peas with this recipe from Food Network.

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound of black-eyed peas
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 6 ounces pork shoulder, diced into cubes
  • 4 strips of bacon, cut
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 4 cups chicken stock
  • 2 cups water
  • 3 bay leaves
  • Hot-pepper vinegar (optional)

Instructions:

1. Use canned black-eyed peas or a pound of dried black-eyed peas. Those who use dried peas can soak them overnight in a large pot by covering them with about four inches of water. Then drain and rinse. The peas can also be given a “quick soak” by bringing them and the water to a boil for two minutes. Then remove the peas from the heat, cover the pot and soak the peas for one hour. Then drain and rinse the peas.

2. Use a large pot to heat the oil on medium-high heat and add the pork when the oil begins to simmer. Sear the pork for four to five minutes until it is brown on all sides.

3. Add garlic, onion, and bacon into the pot. Stir and cook until the garlic and onion are lightly browned, for around six to eight minutes.

4. Add in garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Cook until the contents in the pot are coated in the spices, around two minutes.

5. Pour in the chicken stock and water into the mixture and drop in the bay leaves. Once the contents reach a boil, reduce the heat and allow it to simmer, covered, for about 30 minutes.

6. Once the pork begins to fall apart, add the prepared peas and simmer the mixture for about an hour to an hour and a half until the peas are soft.

7. Taste for seasonings. Hot-pepper vinegar can be added to the recipe if desired. To create a creamier consistency, use the back of a spoon to smash some of the peas against the inside of the pot and stir them into the mixture.

8. Remove the bay leaves and transfer the black-eyed peas to a serving bowl.

Happy New Year!

RELATED STORIES