New Years Hoppin John Salad (Printable Version)

Protein-packed Southern classic with black-eyed peas, chickpeas, crisp vegetables, and creamy tahini dressing

# Ingredient List:

→ Legumes

01 - 1 cup dried black-eyed peas or 1 can (15 oz) canned 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 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, simply drain and rinse thoroughly.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine 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, pepper, and smoked paprika. Add water one tablespoon at a time while whisking until dressing reaches creamy, pourable consistency.
04 - Pour prepared dressing over the salad mixture and gently toss to combine evenly. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or paprika as desired.
05 - Serve immediately for fresh texture, or refrigerate for 1 hour to allow flavors to develop. Gently mix again before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like celebration without feeling heavy, which is exactly what you need when you're trying to start the year feeling good.
  • Black-eyed peas and chickpeas together pack serious protein, so you'll actually stay full and energized.
  • The tahini dressing is silky and comforting but still bright—it's the kind of thing that makes you want to drizzle it on everything for days.
02 -
  • Don't add your dressing until you're ready to serve or within an hour before—the acid will start to soften the vegetables if it sits too long, which sounds good in theory but actually makes everything mushy.
  • The dressing will thicken as it sits in the fridge, so if you're storing leftovers, add a splash of water when you toss it again to bring it back to life.
03 -
  • Always taste the salad before serving and be willing to adjust—the acid in the dressing might need to be stronger or weaker depending on your vegetables and mood.
  • If you have time, let the black-eyed peas cool completely before mixing them into the salad so the heat doesn't wilt the fresh vegetables or warm up the dressing.
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