The traditional lucky dish of the new year, black-eyed peas were introduced to the New World by Spaniards and slaves from West Africa. The legume's association with good luck likely comes from the Civil War era, when Union soldiers would sack Confederate towns of any supplies and food. Northerners didn't consider "field beans" valuable, so they didn't take them, and Southerners survived on the lucky beans.
If you're not one for Hoppin' John (mmm, ham hocks), try cooking your lucky beans the way the Vietnamese do: As a dessert.
In Vietnam, black-eyed peas are often part of a rice and coconut dish called Chu Dau Tran. Much more appealing than beans and fat to start of 2008!
Find a recipe for the dish in English here.
Happy New Year!
No comments:
Post a Comment