14
August/September
It’s Your Life Magazine
15
Hoppin’ John Cakes with
Sweet Chili Sauce
Lydia Filgueras
Black eyed peas are actually a type of legume
which has become a popular component of soul
food and southern cooking. It’s a New Year’s Day
tradition in the South to eat black eyed peas and
collard greens to ensure good luck for the coming year. They’ve been eaten for millennia in the
Mediterranean, Africa and Middle East. Black eyed
peas were most likely brought to the United States
via the slave trade where they were used to feed
humans and animals alike.
Nutritionally black eyed peas are high in calcium,
potassium, iron, fiber and protein. Cooked plain,
they’re also low in fat and calories. They have a
distinct, earthy flavor that complements other foods
(like greens) but can be very strong when eaten on
their own.
Isssue 3
Hoppin’ John is a dish with a ton of regional variations, but most of them include black eyed peas,
onions, tomatoes, bell peppers and hot peppers
cooked with broth and a soup bone to form a
gravy. It’s frequently served over rice, although
you’ll sometimes see rice cooked with the black
eyed peas.
For our Hoppin’ John cakes we’re going to rely on
prepared black eyed peas, leftover rice rather and
the seasonings typically used to make this Southern favorite. Of course, if you have your own recipe
you could easily make a substitution just make
sure to drain it well.
2015
itsyourlifemag.com