Happy Hoppin’ John
And more lively, lovely recipes to kick off the new year.
Cooking
December 31, 2025

Good morning! Today we have for you:

Hoppin’ John is shown in a dark gray bowl with a large spoon for serving.
Toni Tipton-Martin’s Hoppin’ John, adapted by Kayla Stewart. Kate Sears for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Monica Pierini.

Hoppin’ John, lovely and lively

Hello! Julia here. Happy to be with you today.

We published Toni Tipton-Martin’s Hoppin’ John recipe in 2021, and the comments have been reliably busy and heartwarming around the New Year ever since. A commenter named Bea wrote:

“My southern mother made black-eyed peas, ham, mustard greens and corn bread religiously every New Year’s Day. After her six kids were grown, she called each of us to make sure we’d had a bite of each to insure robust health, prosperity and good fortune throughout the year. I make a version of this meal every January 1st for my family and though my mother has been gone for twenty years, I’ll anticipate hearing the phone ring all day long.”

With Louisianians chiming in about using tasso instead of ham, vegans bringing the smoked paprika and Lowcountry folks asserting that red peas are luckier, this classic dish is the kind of recipe that makes New York Times Cooking a sustaining, inspiring community all year long.

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Hoppin’ John

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Here are four more recipes to start (or end) your year on a lively note:

Coconut saag: As Priya Krishna says in the video that demonstrates the recipe, “This is the best way that you can eat a pound of greens.” It’s warming and hearty, but somehow still light.

A black bowl holds bright green coconut saag and steamed rice with a black fork and a small glass of beer nearby.

Kelly Marshall for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Samantha Seneviratne. Prop Stylist: Paige Hicks.

Coconut Saag

By Priya Krishna

Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarUnfilled Star

3,060

35 minutes

Makes 4 servings

Sheet-pan roast chicken with tangy greens: Cooking kale or other braising greens in the spiced, golden fat that’s rendered from roasting chicken legs is the kind of technique that makes a sheet-pan dinner special.

Article Image

Kelly Marshall for The New York Times. Food Stylist; Barrett Washburne.

Sheet-Pan Roast Chicken With Tangy Greens

By Sarah Copeland

Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

583

55 minutes

Makes 4 to 6 servings

Crispy gnocchi with spinach and feta: Spinach and feta with dill, mint and lemon is a heavenly (and classic) combination, and I love how Hetty Lui McKinnon combines that here with the browned, buttery gnocchi.

Article Image

Julia Gartland for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Samantha Seneviratne.

Crispy Gnocchi With Spinach and Feta

By Hetty Lui McKinnon

Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

6,022

25 minutes

Makes 4 servings

Golden potato and greens soup: Finally, how beautiful is this golden soup from Andy Baraghani? It has many of the restorative, cheering properties of chicken soup, but it’s vegan.

Article Image

David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.

Golden Potato and Greens Soup

By Andy Baraghani

Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

3,353

1 hour

Makes 4 to 6 servings

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Tanya Sichynsky shares the most delicious vegetarian recipes for weeknight cooking, packed lunches and dinner parties.

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Tanya Sichynsky shares the most delicious vegetarian recipes for weeknight cooking, packed lunches and dinner parties.

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