Black-Eyed Peas And Greens Soup Recipe

This flavorful soup can be cooked on the stovetop or in a crockpot. Either way, it makes a great meal with cornbread and a tossed salad. Because it contains three lucky ingredients, it is an excellent all-in-one choice for a new year's day lunch or dinner. It is believed that the black-eyed peas symbolize coins, the greens symbolize paper money, and the ham signifies prosperity. Add a pan of hot baked cornbreadthe goldand you will have the perfect good-luck meal. This new year's traditional dish is said to date back to the american civil war. According to another legend, black-eyed peas were symbolic of the emancipation of enslaved people who were officially freed on new year's day. Black-eyed peas are particularly popular in the southern u. S. When prepared with ham and rice, it's called "Hoppin' john, " And when it's marinated in vinegar, it's called "Texas caviar. " Black-eyed peas are popular around the world and it is a misnomer to call them peas, they are actually beans. If you are serving vegetarian friends and family, simply omit the ham and use vegetable broth instead of chicken stock. You also can add more vegetables to the soup like diced carrots, rutabaga or turnip, or chopped turnip greens with diced turnip, and cook them along with the diced onion and celery.