A staple in the Southern diet for more than 300 years, black-eyed peas have long been associated with good luck. And eating a dish of black-eyed peas and greens remains a New Year’s Day tradition in most areas of the South.

Black-eyed peas are thought to symbolize wealth because they look like little coins when cooked. They also swell when cooked, which is another sign of prosperity. Cabbage is also an auspicious item to eat in the new year, as its leaves can look like paper currency.

Hoppin’ John, a dish made with black-eyed peas and rice, is one of the more popular New Year’s Day recipes, particularly in the rice-growing states of Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. The tradition began in the lowland country of South Carolina, and today it is common to include cabbage with the meal to bring an extra measure of good luck.

Many foodies, however, may seek other creative ways to serve black-eyed peas and greens. For those who prefer to eat their black-eyed peas as a snack to complement a day of football on television, black-eyed pea salsa available at upscale grocery stores fits the bill perfectly. And for your good-luck cabbage fix, you can’t go wrong with coleslaw.
Black-eyed peas and coleslaw can be combined for a simple, nutrient-packed salad. Adding black-eyed peas to gumbo, stirring it into corn bread or cooking it with collard greens and ham are other time-tested favorites.

Check out a related article and recipes for good luck foods at Kay's Kitchen.