{"id":4677,"date":"2013-12-31T12:15:33","date_gmt":"2013-12-31T18:15:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/?p=4677"},"modified":"2025-12-31T19:15:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T01:15:14","slug":"hoppin-ben","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/2013\/12\/hoppin-ben\/","title":{"rendered":"Forget John, It’s Time for Hoppin’ Ben"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This is a vegan version of Hoppin\u2019 John, the black-eyed pea dip\/salad\/soup said to bring good luck when eaten on New Year\u2019s Day. (A mess of greens and cornbread (Southern non-sweet recipe<\/a>) complete the traditional charm).<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Hoppin'<\/a>
Photo by Christy Pollock<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Like split peas and lentils, black-eyes do not have to be soaked before cooking. If served immediately, this is more of a soup. Leftovers can be savored, at room temperature, as a bean salad or a dip for pita crisps or tortilla chips, as the pot thickens upon sitting. To reconstitute leftovers — and you will have some — into a stew, add a touch of water and reheat. To return to a soup, add a bit more water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hoppin\u2019 Ben can be made with a 4-quart or larger pressure cooker or just a big pot on the stove. Tip: Preheat the water to boiling in a kettle to save time. Tip: Stock can be used instead of water, OR 1-4 teaspoons low-salt broth powder can be added to water. A low-fat version is given in Notes below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • 3 Tablespoons vegetable oil, divided use<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • 1 large onion, peeled and chopped<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • 2-3 ribs celery, diced to pea size<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • 1 small to medium carrot, diced to pea size (half-cup)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • 1 bell pepper, seeded and diced to pea size<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • 1 teaspoon whole cumin seeds<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • 1\/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • 1\/4 teaspoon ground black pepper<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • 1 teaspoon salt, to start with<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • 1-3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • 1 lb. (2.5 cups) dried black-eyed peas, inspected and rinsed<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • 2-3 teaspoons dried oregano<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • 10 cups water<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • 1 10 oz. can tomatoes and peppers (such as Rotel), undrained<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • 1-2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar\u00a0(optional<\/em>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Pressure cooker: With 2 Tablespoons oil, saute all vegetables except garlic over medium heat 5 minutes. Scoot vegetables to sides, add remaining 1 Tablespoon oil to bare middle then drop in all at once garlic and spices into oil and sizzle 15 seconds. Stir everything together 1 minute. Add peas, oregano, water and tomatoes. Lock on the lid and bring to pressure. Lower heat and cook 8 minutes. Reduce pressure with your cooker\u2019s quick method, remove cover and return cooker to stove. Check peas for tenderness and simmer a few more minutes if needed. Take off burner, taste and add vinegar and a little more salt if desired. If too soupy, serve with slotted spoon; the great broth can be used elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Dutch oven: Saute vegetables and spices as above. Add peas, oregano, water and tomatoes. Bring to boil over high, reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, 45-60 minutes, adding a little more hot water as needed, until a couple of sample peas are tender. Take off burner, taste and add vinegar and a little more salt if desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Eight generous servings. Garnishes: chopped parsley or cilantro, minced scallions or chives, corn chips, also sour cream or plain yogurt (dairy or vegan versions).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Notes<\/em>: The pressure cooker is my preference. I always make the stew on New Year’s morning while watching the parades on TV, even though it can be more practical to cook the day before. A medium to large rice cooker can be used, follow Dutch oven instructions. Slow cookers are not<\/em> recommended for cooking any dry beans. Also, for a spicier stew, consider adding 1\/4 teaspoon, scant, cayenne flakes or chipotle powder, but only after tasting to check the heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Low-fat option:  Cook peas in the water. For pressure cookers, add 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil to the pot. After removing lid and ensuring peas are tender, raise heat and add all other ingredients except vinegar. When boiling reduce to simmer gently 10-15 minutes. You may need to add a little water or simmer longer to evaporate, for desired soup or stew consistency.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    This is a vegan version of Hoppin\u2019 John, the black-eyed pea dip\/salad\/soup said to bring good luck when eaten on New Year\u2019s Day. (A mess of greens and cornbread (Southern non-sweet recipe) complete the traditional charm). Like split peas and lentils, black-eyes do not have to be soaked before cooking. If served immediately, this is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[56,53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-holiday-cuisine","category-entrees"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7221,"url":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/2021\/12\/joumou-haitian-soup\/","url_meta":{"origin":4677,"position":0},"title":"Appropriation: It’s What’s for Dinner","author":"Ben S. Pollock","date":"December 31, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Haitian Joumou Soup \u2014 non-fat vegan recipe I haven't cooked on a gas stovetop since early 1999, when we bought the current house. Top of my want list for a new home should we move has been a gas stove. Alas, in recent months media stories claim that cooking electric\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Holiday Cuisine"","block_context":{"text":"Holiday Cuisine","link":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/category\/kook-cooks\/holiday-cuisine\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Some winter squash varieties at the 2013 Kew Gardens IncrEdibles Festival. 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It looks wonderful, eggs poached in a stew\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Main Courses"","block_context":{"text":"Main Courses","link":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/category\/kook-cooks\/entrees\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Skillet of Shakshuka 181","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/benpollock.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/Skillet-of-Shakshuka-181.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/benpollock.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/Skillet-of-Shakshuka-181.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/benpollock.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/Skillet-of-Shakshuka-181.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/benpollock.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/Skillet-of-Shakshuka-181.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/benpollock.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/Skillet-of-Shakshuka-181.jpg?resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6636,"url":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/2020\/08\/soba-salad\/","url_meta":{"origin":4677,"position":2},"title":"Soba So Good","author":"Ben S. 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It's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Main Courses"","block_context":{"text":"Main Courses","link":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/category\/kook-cooks\/entrees\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Soba noodles, as packaged","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/benpollock.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dried_soba_noodles_and_package_by_FotoosVanRobin.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/benpollock.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dried_soba_noodles_and_package_by_FotoosVanRobin.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/benpollock.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dried_soba_noodles_and_package_by_FotoosVanRobin.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/benpollock.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dried_soba_noodles_and_package_by_FotoosVanRobin.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/benpollock.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dried_soba_noodles_and_package_by_FotoosVanRobin.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5917,"url":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/2017\/12\/wholemeal-tomato-soup\/","url_meta":{"origin":4677,"position":3},"title":"Wholemeal Tomato Soup","author":"Ben S. 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Even before I started eating really healthy, that seemed like\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Condiments"","block_context":{"text":"Condiments","link":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/category\/kook-cooks\/condiments\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Illustration of a bowl of salad","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/benpollock.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/salad-bowl-openclipart.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/benpollock.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/salad-bowl-openclipart.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/benpollock.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/salad-bowl-openclipart.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/benpollock.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/salad-bowl-openclipart.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/benpollock.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/salad-bowl-openclipart.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/benpollock.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/salad-bowl-openclipart.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6466,"url":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/2020\/01\/dress-up\/","url_meta":{"origin":4677,"position":5},"title":"Dress Up","author":"Ben S. 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Healthier Savory Dressing Based on \"2-Minute Oil-Free Balsamic Dressing\" from Forks over Knives 2 parts good\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Condiments"","block_context":{"text":"Condiments","link":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/category\/kook-cooks\/condiments\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4677"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8268,"href":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4677\/revisions\/8268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}