New Year's Traditions
Black-eyed peas are a traditional dish to eat on January 1st, with the hope that the peas will bring luck throughout the year. Some years we make Texas Caviar with black-eyed peas but this year we made a hearty stew in the hopes they will bring us good luck in 2019. To cook this dish at home see the recipe below from Food & Wine.
Black-Eyed Pea Stew with Sausage
Ingredients
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 1/4 pounds hot Italian sausages (about 8 links), pricked with a fork
1 onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
One 14-ounce can Italian tomatoes, drained and chopped
2 cups dried black-eyed peas, picked over and rinsed
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
3 cups water
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup chopped cilantro, plus leaves for garnish
How to Make It
Step 1: In a large enameled cast-iron casserole, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the sausages and cook over moderate heat, turning occasionally, until they are cooked through, about 10 minutes. Transfer the sausages to a plate.
Step 2: Add the onion, bell pepper, garlic and jalapeño to the casserole and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until just beginning to brown, about 6 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook until any liquid is evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add the black-eyed peas along with the broth and water. Season lightly with salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Cover partially and simmer over moderately low heat until the black-eyed peas are just tender, about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Step 3: Cut the sausages on the diagonal into 1/2-inch slices and add them to the stew along with any accumulated juices from the plate. Add the chopped cilantro, season with salt and pepper and simmer the stew for 10 minutes. Spoon the pea-and-sausage stew into deep bowls, garnish with cilantro leaves and serve.