Slow Cooker Black-Eyed Peas with Ham Hock

Slow Cooker Black-Eyed Peas for New Years Day represent good luck. And, it is a tradition to consume them on New Year's Day to ensure good luck throughout the year.

Whether you believe this superstition or not, this Slow Cooker Black-Eyed Pea recipe is still a delicious way to start the new year.

Slow Cooker Black-Eyed Peas for good luck

Black-eyed peas are said to bring good luck when consumed on New Year's Day. The peas represent pennies or coins, meaning wealth for the new year.

Many people eat cornbread and greens along with their Black-Eyed Peas as a part of their meal on New Year's Day. A perfect match for this Slow Cooker Black-Eyed Pea recipe is Skillet Jalapeno Cornbread (gold) and Braised Collard Greens (green).

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Slow Cooker Black-Eyed Peas are easy peasy!

The slow cooker makes this recipe so simple. It's as easy as adding your black-eyed peas and other ingredients all at once to the slow cooker. Then, set it to cook on low for 8 hours. I like to spice this recipe up a bit by adding cajun seasoning and jalapeno pepper.

Make this Slow Cooker Black-Eyed Pea recipe your way

There are several different ways to change up this recipe. Below are a few ways we enjoy and you may also!

• Cook bacon until crisp and then saute the onions and pepper in the bacon grease before adding to the slow cooker.
• Use pork belly in place of the ham hock.
• Leave out the cajun seasoning and add Italian Seasoning for a different flavor profile.
• Use chicken stock in place of water.
• Serve the Slow Cooker Black-Eyed Peas over hot rice or noodles.
• Use leftover cubed ham in place of the ham hocks.
• Stir in a 15 ounce can of diced tomatoes at the end of cooking.

Tips for a successful slow cooker recipe

• Remove the lid from the slow cooker the last hour of cook time. This reduces the liquid some and helps the beans to thicken.
• Make this recipe a day ahead and store it in the refrigerator after cooling. Allowing it to sit overnight in the refrigerator will thicken it up and it won't be as soupy as it is when it is done cooking.

To soak or not to soak the black-eyed peas

Soaking dried legumes is normally done to help avoid digestive issues. However, is it really necessary? I say it depends. If you do have issues due to the consumption of dried legumes, then soaking them is probably what is right for you. If you don't have digestion issues with dried beans, then you don't have to soak them. But I still recommend it unless you're making the black-eyed peas in a slow cooker.

My mom always soaked her dried legumes overnight before cooking them. However, she has informed me recently, that she does not soak them when cooking them in the slow cooker.

My take away from this is, do what you feel is best for you. I'll probably still soak them. I like the fact that soaking them softens the beans and I feel they cook better, faster, and are better for my own digestion.

Other foods that bring you luck on New Years Day

Slow Cooker Black-eyed Peas aren't the only food considered to bring you good luck. There are a few other foods that fit that bill also. Another delicious New Year recipe to make with black-eyed peas is Hoppin' John.

Pork for good luck and fortune

Pork and Sauerkraut. Back in the day, if your family had a pig, it meant the family was good to go for the winter. And, the fermented cabbage (formerly green) represents the green color of money.

This Country Style Ribs with Sauerkraut recipe is a delicious way to ensure that good luck for the year.

Green for wealth and Round for coins

The green spinach and round grapes in this Spinach Salad with Grapes, Blue Cheese, and Almonds, will put your luck on high alert!

The same goes for this Champagne Marinated Shrimp and Fruit Salad. This recipe is full of wealthy representation with pomegranate, green grapes, gold mangos, and shrimp.

This Creamy Pecan Crunch Grape Salad is another tasty dish full of good luck grapes. It would make a delicious side to this Maple Glazed Pork Tenderloin.

Noodles for longevity

If there is one food I'm always happy to oblige eating for good luck, it is noodles. Eating noodles in the new year represents long life.

This recipe for Longevity Noodles with Shrimp is one of our favorites to enjoy in the new year. This is a simple and delicious recipe that will also fit the weight watcher's lifestyle.

Another delicious noodle recipe is this Pancit Canton Recipe (Filipino Stir Fried Noodles. These noodles are packed with goodies that nobody can resist!

Related Recipes

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Slow Cooker Black-Eyed Peas with Ham Hock

Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs

Slow Cooker Clam Chowder

Slow Cooker BBQ Beef Brisket Sandwiches

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