Growing up in Indiana, we never had Hoppin John for New Year's. We usually had sauerkraut and weiners instead ?. So today I'm getting back to my Southern roots and making a big batch of Vegan Instant Pot Hoppin John.
Hoppin John, for those of you who have never heard of it, is a meal made popular in the southern part of the United States. Being from Kentucky, it's strange my mom never made it, or at least that I remember. For some reason, she always made sauerkraut and weiners....ugh. And fried at that.
Hoppin John is simply smoked pork, black-eyed peas, and rice, and first appeared in a Carolina Cookbook back in 1847.
- Who was this John person, and why was he hopping?
- How did this recipe end up being a popular New Year's Day meal?
- And what's so lucky about it?
I honestly have no idea. I know the black-eyes peas are supposed to represent 'coins', and collard greens were added to resemble "cash". And even the cornbread was said to represent 'gold'. So apparently, this recipe was meant to bring financial luck.
Not sure how true that is, but I DO know it's healthy with lots of protein, fiber, and of course all that amazing Dr. Esselstyn nitric-oxide from the greens.
As I mentioned, in the south, it is typically served with cornbread, and while I did not make any yesterday, you can find my recipe for a delicious Vegan, Oil-Free Cornbread right here.
This was totally a last-minute decision and honestly an impromptu 'throw-together' kind of meal, but it came out really good I think. So even though it's a few days late, I still hope you enjoy it.
Happy New Year!
Vegan Instant Pot Hoppin John
As the name implies, this is an Instant Pot recipe. If you still don't have one yet - they ARE handy in that they take the whole "soaking the beans all night" part of cooking dried legumes completely out of the equation. Instead, you can have a dish like this, or say a big pot of Soup Beans ready in about an hour.
I'll leave my affiliate link below in case you are interested. As an Amazon Affiliate, I do make a few pennies from every purchase but at no extra cost to you.
The prep for this recipe couldn't be simpler.
Dice an onion, a few ribs of celery, and a carrot (or 2) and add them to your pot. Toss in some minced garlic, your broth, and the water.
Then rinse your rice and your black-eyed peas and add them as well.
Finally, add 2 cans of your favorite diced tomatoes (I like fire-roasted) and all the seasonings.
Don't add your greens at this point. Wait until after your beans have cooked and you have removed the lid. The heat of the soup will be enough to wilt them. Speaking of greens, I used kale but you can use collards, mustard, swiss chard, whatever greens you like.
Cook on manual, using the high-pressure setting, for about 20 minutes, then let it sit after it's finished for another 10-15 minutes before carefully removing any remaining pressure.
Carefully remove the lid, add your greens, and I like to stir in a tablespoon (or 2) of balsamic vinegar. It really adds to the flavor.
Stir and serve.
Easy, simple, tasty, and cheap too!
Here's wishing all of you a very prosperous and HEALTHY 2022!
Vegan Instant Pot Hoppin John
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 45 min
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 8 -10 servings 1x
- Category: Beans, Holidays
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Growing up in Indiana, we never had Hoppin John for New Year's. We usually had sauerkraut and weiners instead ?. So today I'm getting back to my Southern roots and making a big batch of Vegan Instant Pot Hoppin John.
Ingredients
- 1 onion
- 2 ribs celery
- 1 carrot
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 2 cups dried black-eyed peas
- 1 cup rice (I used white)
- 2 cans fire-roasted tomatoes (15oz ea)
- 4 cups low sodium vegetable broth
- 1 cup water
- 2 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ bunch kale
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- hot sauce to taste
Instructions
- Dice onion, carrot, and celery and add to instant pot
- Rinse black-eyed peas and rice, and add to instant pot
- Add tomatoes, broth, and water
- Add the garlic and spices
- Stir to mix well and attach lid. Seal.
- Cook on manual for 20 minutes
- Allow steam to vent naturally for 15 min then carefully release any remaining pressure
- Remove the tough ribs from the kale and shred the leaves
- Stir kale into the beans and add balsamic to flavor
- Taste for seasoning
Johanna
I kind of like making a different recipe for Hoppin John every year. One year I just sort of made it up myself. This year I'm following your recipe. I'm really excited to find out how it comes out.
Diane Neumeister
Love this recipe! I had collard greens on hand and they are more traditional, so I used them instead of kale.
My Instant Pot is a bit touchy about burning when cooking tomato-based dishes, so I put everything in except the tomatoes, stirred well, then added the tomatoes on top. This seems to work best for my IP.
Rhona Ethe
We absolutely love this receipe. I use a wild rice mix from thrive instead of white rice. One of my regular food prep rotation meals
Lee
I followed this with a few of my own additions: using frozen black-eyed peas, only one can of tomatoes, roasted red peppers, adding a small amount of liquid smoke, some Tony Chachere’s creole seasoning, extra garlic, one finely minced jalapeño, and collards. I like the the texture of the collard stems so added them first to cook with the rice and peas then adding the rest of the chopped collards at the end. Delicious!!!
Margaret
Trying this tonight but would love an answer to this question. When you say cook on manual for 20 minutes, do you mean low or high pressure? I assume high but just want to make sure. Thanks!
Chuck Underwood
High Pressure
Planty
As someone mentioned, the white rice went mushy. Brown is probably a better option.
I found the spices too bland. Added salt (traditionally Hoppin’ John has hamhocks in it) and Louisiana hot sauce. I will try this without including the rice next time. The black eye peas cooked just right.
I added collard greens at the end.
Ron
I made a 6 quart Instapot full of this for supper tonight and for some tomorrow to capture the New Year luck. This is a great vegan dish. I use Brown rice.
Alison
Love this! I grew up with sauerkraut, pork and pirogies but once I stopped eating meat (decades ago) I browsed new years food from around the world and settled on Hoppin’ John as something I like and can make pretty easily. I don’t like a lot of heat and just use chipotle chili powder and a little maple syrup or molasses and serve with polenta. I’m always tweaking so appreciate seeing your version. Thanks!
Susan
This is a great recipe - very flavorful and hearty - as a single person I have frozen individual helpings for later - I love this site
Kim
Chuck, I give out few %*'s as those are saved for responses lie you had for you Pad Thai. OMG! I am absolutely over the moon , kind of taste.
That said. A very good meal. Love the taste, love the Kale .
If I decide to cook the rice separate ( do I really want to do that???? ) should I eliminate the 1 c. of water?
Thank you for the recipe!!!
Dawn Robens
The white rice disintegrated, Good flavornthough!