Healthy, Hearty Hoppin' John
Jan 06, 2026 07:43 AM
This healthy, hearty version of Hoppin' John is bursting with delicious flavor and includes lots of fresh veggies in addition to the traditional black-eyed peas, pork and rice.
I decided to do a bit of research and it turns out that, although there are a few common denominators, Hoppin' John recipes are as varied as the day is long. Most include ham, bacon or some type of pork, but I've also seen vegetarian recipes and versions made with smoked turkey thighs. Some recipes include collards but just as many do not.
Black-eyed peas are pretty much non-negotiable for Hoppin' John and it's generally served with rice on the side or mixed right in. Other than that, it seems that the sky's the limit when it comes to variations of this famous Southern dish. My version calls for lots of black-eyed peas, a boatload of fresh veggies, diced ham and cooked basmati rice. It's brothy without being soupy.
Ingredients:
For the prep
- 1 15-ounce can fire-roasted tomatoes, drained and chopped small
- 4 medium stalks celery, diced small
- 1 medium red bell pepper, diced small
- 1 medium yellow bell pepper, diced small
- 1 medium orange bell pepper, diced small
- 1 medium red onion, diced small
- 1 medium sweet yellow onion, diced small
- 2 medium-size jalapeños, seeds removed and finely chopped
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- 2 15-ounce cans black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
- 2 cups diced smoky ham, diced in ½-inch pieces
For the Hoppin’ John
- 2 slices thick-cut smoky bacon, halved lengthwise then cut into ½ inch slices
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 3 cups low -sodium chicken broth, maybe more
- 2 medium-size bay leaves, (3 if small)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ cup finely chopped fresh parsley
To finish
- 4 cups cooked rice, I like basmati (about a half cup per serving)
- green onions, thinly sliced on a diagonal, optional
- halved cherry tomatoes, optional
- avocado slices, optional
Prep Time:
20 minutes
Cook Time:
10 minutes
Total Time:
30 minutes
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