Table Talk: I Make This Southern Good Luck Soup Every New Year’s
It’s packed with good luck foods for a delicious dinner.
What Foods Are Good Luck?
When it comes to New Year's Day, many families have their own traditions and rituals. In the South, it's common to prepare certain foods that are believed to bring good luck for the upcoming year. While these traditions may vary from family to family, there are a few staples that are always included. The three main good luck foods in Southern cuisine are black-eyed peas, collard greens (representing money), and pork.
Black-eyed peas are often stewed or cooked with rice to make a dish called hoppin' john. Collard greens are usually braised with some sort of pork, like ham hocks or bacon. As for pork, it symbolizes progress and prosperity. These ingredients are not only considered good luck, but they also happen to be delicious and comforting, making them perfect for a New Year's Day meal.
How to Make My Good Luck Soup
If you're looking for a tasty way to incorporate all the good luck ingredients into one dish, try making Laurel Randolph's Good Luck Soup. It's a flavorful and comforting soup that combines black-eyed peas, collard greens, and pork sausage.
To make this soup, you'll need dried black-eyed peas, collard greens, onion, red bell pepper, garlic, spicy sausage, chicken broth, lemon, salt, and pepper. The black-eyed peas are soaked overnight and then cooked until tender. Meanwhile, the other ingredients are prepped and cooked in a pot. Once everything is cooked, they are combined and simmered together for additional flavor. The soup is seasoned with a squeeze of lemon and salt and pepper to taste. Serve it with cornbread for a complete meal.
Shortcuts and Variations
If you don't have dried black-eyed peas or don't want to go through the process of soaking and cooking them, you can use canned black-eyed peas instead. Simply drain and rinse them before adding them to the soup.
Additionally, you can customize the soup by adding other ingredients like diced potatoes, rice, or pasta. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time and add more liquid if needed. This Good Luck Soup is a versatile recipe that you can make your own!
