Vegetarian Hoppin John (Printable)

Hearty plant-based Southern black-eyed peas with vegetables and smoked paprika over fluffy rice.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 - 1 medium onion, diced
03 - 1 green bell pepper, diced
04 - 2 celery stalks, diced
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced

→ Legumes

06 - 2 cans (15 ounces each) black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed

→ Seasonings

07 - 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
08 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
09 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
10 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
11 - ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
12 - 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
13 - 1½ teaspoons sea salt
14 - 2 bay leaves

→ Liquids

15 - 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
16 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari

→ To Serve

17 - 4 cups cooked long-grain white or brown rice
18 - ¼ cup fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped
19 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
20 - Lemon wedges

# How to make it:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add diced onion, bell pepper, and celery. Sauté for 5–6 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add smoked paprika, thyme, oregano, cumin, cayenne, black pepper, and salt. Stir well to coat the vegetables in the spices.
04 - Pour in drained black-eyed peas, vegetable broth, soy sauce, and add bay leaves. Stir to combine thoroughly.
05 - Bring to a gentle simmer, reduce heat, and cook uncovered for 20–25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens and flavors meld.
06 - Discard bay leaves. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
07 - Spoon Hoppin John over warm cooked rice. Garnish with fresh parsley or cilantro, green onions, and a squeeze of lemon if desired.

# Recipe Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes deeply savory and complex without relying on meat, proving that Southern comfort food belongs to everyone.
  • Ready in under an hour with minimal hands on time, making it perfect for weeknight dinners or holiday gatherings.
  • Naturally plant-based and gluten free, so you can serve it confidently to guests with any dietary preference.
02 -
  • Smoked paprika is not optional, it's the ingredient that replaces the smokiness traditionally provided by pork, and skipping it will make this dish feel incomplete.
  • Rinsing your canned peas matters because canned goods often come packed in sodium heavy liquid, and you want to control that saltiness yourself.
03 -
  • For extra smokiness, add a dash of liquid smoke or swap cayenne pepper for chipotle powder, but start with less because both flavors are bold and assertive.
  • You can substitute black eyed peas with pinto beans or kidney beans if that's what you have, though the flavor profile shifts slightly and the texture becomes a bit heartier.
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