New Years Hoppin John Salad (Printable View)

Protein-packed Southern classic with legumes, crisp vegetables, and tangy tahini dressing for a healthy new year celebration.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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

# How to Make It:

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

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like tradition and feels like forward momentum at the same time, which is exactly what you need when you're standing at the edge of a new year.
  • The tahini dressing is so creamy and tangy that nobody will miss the heaviness of a cooked meal, and you'll actually want to eat it again on Tuesday.
  • Everything can be prepped while you're sipping coffee, which means you're not stuck in the kitchen while everyone else celebrates.
02 -
  • Don't skip cooling the rice and peas—warm ingredients will break down the vegetables and make your salad turn into mush within an hour.
  • The tahini dressing thickens as it sits, so if you're making this ahead, add an extra tablespoon of water right before serving to loosen it back up.
03 -
  • Make the dressing first, taste it straight from a spoon, and adjust the seasoning before it touches the salad—you want it to be bold enough to stand up to the earthy peas.
  • If you're cooking dried black-eyed peas from scratch, add a bay leaf and a slice of onion to the cooking water for depth, even though you won't taste them directly.
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