Hoppin john is traditionally served on new years day and is thought to bring good luck in the new year. Our version is easy enough for any night of the week, but tasty enough for your holiday dinner, too. The recipe calls for a two-pound bag of frozen black-eyed peas, thawed, that are added straight to the slow cooker. A jar of roasted red bell peppers and a jar of roasted salsa verde act as quick flavor boosters that keep prep time and the ingredient list short. You can even buy pre-chopped onions, carrots, and garlic in the produce section of your grocery store if you are looking for even more ways to cut hands-on time. The bacon is cooked in a skillet before adding to the slow cooker to ensure perfectly crispy bits with each bite of hoppin john. Once the bacon has been removed from the pan, garlic is sauted in the drippingsbringing out a rich, deliciously fragrant flavor. The rest of the ingredients are added to the slow cooker and will cook on low six to eight hours, or until the beans are soft and delicious. It wouldnt be hoppin john without a bed of rice. Choose your favorite variety and let friends and family serve themselves. Put out a bottle of hot sauce and small dish of chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley for optional toppings. For even more ideas like our hoppin john, check out our summer-fresh field peas recipe collection.
