New Years Hoppin John Salad (Print View)

Protein-rich Southern-inspired bowl with black-eyed peas, chickpeas, fresh vegetables, and creamy tahini dressing.

# Components:

→ Legumes

01 - 1 cup dried black-eyed peas or 1 can (15 oz) black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 cup cooked long-grain rice, cooled
04 - 1 small red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 small celery stalk, diced
06 - 1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
07 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
08 - 2 green onions, sliced
09 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

→ Tahini Dressing

10 - 1/4 cup tahini
11 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
12 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
13 - 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
14 - 1 teaspoon maple syrup or agave nectar
15 - 1 clove garlic, minced
16 - 2 to 3 tablespoons water
17 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
18 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
19 - 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika, optional

# Directions:

01 - If using dried black-eyed peas, rinse and soak for at least 4 hours or overnight. Drain, then cook in simmering water for 30 to 40 minutes until tender. Drain and cool completely. If using canned peas, drain and rinse thoroughly.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled black-eyed peas, chickpeas, cooked rice, bell pepper, celery, red onion, cherry tomatoes, green onions, and parsley.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together tahini, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, maple syrup, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Gradually add water one tablespoon at a time, whisking until the dressing reaches a creamy, pourable consistency.
04 - Pour the tahini dressing over the salad mixture and toss gently to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed.
05 - Serve immediately for a fresh presentation, or refrigerate for 1 hour to allow flavors to meld together. Gently mix before serving to redistribute dressing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's the kind of dish that looks like you spent hours in the kitchen but actually comes together in under 40 minutes.
  • The creamy tahini dressing transforms simple vegetables into something that tastes genuinely luxurious without any dairy.
  • You get all the good luck symbolism of Hoppin' John without feeling like you're eating tradition for tradition's sake.
02 -
  • If your tahini dressing breaks or looks grainy, you've probably added water too quickly—start over with a fresh tablespoon of tahini and whisk it with the lemon juice first before adding anything else.
  • Don't dress the salad more than 2 hours before serving if you want the vegetables to stay crisp; after that, everything starts releasing water and the salad becomes soft and soupy.
03 -
  • Use day-old rice because warm rice will absorb too much dressing and turn everything mushy—cold rice stays separate and textured.
  • Whisk the tahini dressing vigorously; it needs air to become creamy, and this is where your arm actually makes a difference in the final texture.
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