I hope that you have had a wonderful start to the New Year! I made this delightful soup this past week and upon sharing it with my group clients; they remarked ‘oh black eyed peas to bring in good luck in the New Year’.
‘Um, yes, of course’… but, in fact, it was a complete co-incidence! When I returned to my computer and researched the topic I found that it is indeed true that, in certain parts of the world, it is believed that consuming these protein packed legumes will bring you good luck in the New Year. In the South, the black eyed peas are consumed with greens. The black eyed peas, because they swell when cooked, are believed to bring prosperity, and the greens symbolize money.
Pre-cooked Black Eyed Peas
So, what have you got to lose? At the very least, you’ll be making a super nutritious soup that is easy to make, tastes super yum and is even great to keep for the next day. Enjoy eating your bowl of health, prosperity and money! Here’s how to make it:
Kale and Black-Eyed Peas Soup*
Serves 4
Ingredients:
- 3-4 cloves of garlic (minced or finely chopped)
- 1-2 tbs olive oil
- 1 chopped onion
- 1 can stewed tomatoes
- 2 cups of cooked black-eyed peas
- 1 bunch Kale (washed and chopped)
- 3 cups of Vegetable Stock (you can even make your own – water, vegetable spices, black pepper, sea salt and cayenne pepper)
Instructions:
- Heat oil in pot.
- Sauté garlic and onion until soft (about 5 minutes) on medium/medium-high heat.
- Add tomatoes, stock and beans and bring to a simmer.
- Reduce heat and cook for 5-10 minutes.
- Add Kale and stir.
- Cook for a minute or two, until Kale wilts.
- Serve as is, or with a slice of Rice Bread or Sprouted Wheat Bread, or with 1/3 cup brown rice.
*This recipe is a modified version of one that appears at page 126 in ‘Spilling the Beans’, a recipe book by Julie van Rosendaal and Sue Duncan
