Healthier Hoppin’ John #SundaySupper

This Healthier Hoppin’ John recipe is a traditional Southern dish made with black eyed peas. Our Hoppin’ John gets healthier with turkey bacon used in place of pork. Often eaten New Year’s Day for good luck.

I guess it’s no surprise I acquired a taste for Hoppin’ John during the five years I lived in Kentucky. Hoppin’ John a popular dish in the South, plus I tend to be a fan of flavorful beans and rice dishes, so was predisposed to liking it. Eating Hoppin’ John on New Year’s Day is a tradition in the South, so I thought I’d bring you Healthier Hoppin’ John for this Last Minute Holiday Dishes #SundaySupper.

What is Hoppin’ John?

Hoppin’ John is traditionally made by cooking black-eyed peas with pork fat of some sort–bacon, sausage, or ham hocks. Though it is eaten throughout the South, it is most common in the Carolinas, according to this article. 

This same post elaborates on the tradition of enjoying Hoppin’ John on New Year’s. Sometimes the Hoppin’ John accompanies the Champagne when the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve. Serving it with collard greens could enhance your chance of wealth in the New Year, and if you find the coin buried in your serving of Hoppin’ John, you are really lucky. Assuming you didn’t find the coin by crunching down on it! Wondering how many of my Southern readers observe any of these New Year’s traditions involving Hoppin’ John?

Making Healthier Hoppin’ John

Making Healthier Hoppin’ John comes pretty naturally to me. Jodi was eating mostly vegetarian during the time we were living in Kentucky, and I first had Hoppin’ John at a vegetarian-friendly restaurant in Lexington called Alfalfa. I was pleased to see from the restaurant’s website they are still going strong nearly twenty years after we left the area. If memory serves correctly, I believe the offered Hoppin’ John as a vegetarian dish.

I made Healthier’ Hoppin John by substituting turkey bacon for regular bacon in this recipe. Turkey bacon has much lower fat content, but still lends the smoky flavor characteristic of the dish. I doubled up on the smoky flavor by adding a bit of smoked maple syrup. I list that as an optional ingredient, as I realize not everyone has smoked maple syrup on hand. But I do encourage you to grab some, as it adds great flavor to many dishes, such as my Smoky Maple Greens and Cabbage Salad.

I was debating about whether to list the Healthier Hoppin’ John as a side dish or a main. I served the most recent version of Healthier Hoppin’ John as a side for a Pork Chops with Caraemlized Onions recipe I’m working on updating. The Hoppin’ John and pork chops certainly worked out nicely. But Jodi was so enthused to see Hoppin’ John that night she filled her plate with the Healthier Hoppin’ John and skipped the pork. So make the Healthier Hoppin’ John as a side for pork or chicken, or serve it as a healthy main dish to start your New Year off right!

A couple other cooking notes before I get to the recipe. I used a Cajun spice blend in an earlier version of this recipe. But I like the blend of paprika, oregano and thyme I used in this version of Healthier Hoppin’ John better. And yes, using a low fat cheese or skipping it altogether would make this even healthier. If you’re so inclined, go for it. But taking out bacon AND cheese seemed a little extreme to me! However you make this Healthier Hoppin’ John, I hope you enjoy it and have much good fortune in the New Year!

Healthier Hoppin’ John

★★★★★

5 from 7 reviews

A traditional Southern dish made with black eyed peas gets healthier with turkey bacon used in place of pork. Often eaten New Year’s Day for good luck.

• Author: Cooking Chat
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins
• Total Time: 30 mins
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: Side
• Method: stove top
• Cuisine: Southern

Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 1 or 2 slices turkey bacon
• 2 tbsp olive oil, divided
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 yellow or red pepper, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• ½ cup low sodium chicken broth
• ½ tsp paprika
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• ½ tsp oregano
• 1 14 oz can black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 tsp smoked maple syrup (optional)
• 1 scallion, sliced
• 1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
• 2 cups or more cooked brown rice for serving

Instructions

1. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a pan or large skillet. Add the turkey bacon, cook about 10 minutes until crisp, turning occasionally.
2. Remove the bacon from the skillet and set aside to cool on a paper towel. Break the bacon into small bits when it is cool, and reserve for topping the Hoppin’ John.
3. Wipe most of the excess grease from the pan–though there isn’t much with turkey bacon–and add the remaining olive oil. Heat the pan on medium, then add the onions.
4. Cook the onions for about 5 minutes, they should be starting to soften at this point. Add the pepper, sauté for another 5 minutes. Add the garlic, cook for a minute more.
5. Stir the black-eyed peas into the onion mixture. Add the chicken broth, paprika, thyme and oregano. Stir to combine.
6. Add the honey and optional smoked maple syrup, if using. Stir to combine. Simmer the mixture for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
7. Plate a portion of rice, the scoop a serving of the Hoppin’ John over the rice. Top the Hoppin’ John with a sprinkling of the scallions, bacon and cheese. Enjoy!

Keywords: Hoppin' John, lightened up recipes, healthy recipes, black eyed peas

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Be sure to check out all of the last minute holiday recipes from the Sunday Supper crew!

Beverages

• Gluten Free Holiday Mocha by Gluten Free Crumbley
• The Frenchy by Books n’ Cooks

Breakfast

• Chocolate Chip Banana Bread by Ruffles & Truffles
• Chocolate Cranberry Mini Muffins by Sew You Think You Can Cook

Appetizers

• Cauliflower-Apple Melts by The Wimpy Vegetarian
• Chimichurri Bread by What Smells So Good?
• Everything Cream Cheese Balls by Magnolia Days
• Mini Party Crab Cakes by Food Lust People Love
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• Scallops with Cranberry Bacon Jam by Caroline’s Cooking
• Shrimp and Artichoke Crostini by Monica’s Table
• Spanakopita Bites by Casa de Crews
• Tortellini Caprese Bites by The Freshman Cook
• Tropical Cocktail Wings by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings

Main Dishes

• Bean, Escarole, & Sausage Soup by Get the Good Stuff
• Chicken Cacciatore Pronto by Crazy Foodie Stunts
• Easy Chicken Fried Rice by Feeding Big
• Swedish Meatballs by Palatable Pastime

Side Dishes

• Apple Pecan Salad by Wholistic Woman
• Bourbon Glazed Sweet Potatoes by Cosmopolitan Cornbread
• Healthier Hoppin’ John by Cooking Chat
• Italian Sausage & Broccoli Rabe Stuffing by The Food Hunter’s Guide to Cuisine

Desserts

• 4-Ingredient Double Chocolate Christmas Fudge by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
• Bananas Foster Bread Pudding by Wallflour Girl
• Dark Chocolate Coconut Pecan Cups by PancakeWarriors
• Frangelico French Silk Pie by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Holiday Pie Crust Cookies by Rhubarb and Honey
• Peppermint Bark Pretzels by Pies and Plots
• Red Velvet Eggnog Cheesecake Trifle by The Crumby Cupcake
• Santa Cookies by NinjaBaker.com
• Skillet Cookies by Lifestyle Food Artistry
• Soft and Chewy Lemon Cookies by Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch
• White Chocolate Covered Gingerbread OREOS by Renee’s Kitchen Adventures
• White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks

Quick and Easy Holiday Recipe #SundaySupper by Sunday Supper Movement

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