Growing up in the South in Texas and Louisiana, one of the New Year’s customs I became familiar with is having black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day for good luck in the coming year. There are many dishes that one can add black-eyed peas to from stews to soups, tacos and burritos to salads and appetizers. For my New Years Day black-eyed pea dish I have chosen to make Black Eyed Pea Fritters.  I use frozen black-eyed peas as I find them to taste fresher but you can use canned black-eyed peas or dried ones as well.  Here is the recipe.

New Year’s Day Black Eyed Pea Fritters:
makes 30-40 small fritters

Ingredients:

• 4 cups or 1 lb black-eyed peas cooked until tender
• 4 small potatoes boiled until tender
• 1 small onion finely chopped
• Chopped cilantro – 4 tbsp
• 2 slices of any white bread cut into small pieces
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• Salt
• Oil

Directions:

• In a large mixing bowl mash the cooked black-eyed peas and potatoes together.
• Add salt, paprika, onions, bread and cilantro and mix into the black eyed peas.
• Form into small patties and place on a plate.
• In a frying pan, heat oil and shallow fry the patties until golden brown on both sides.
• They are ready to be eaten as is or with any dip or chutney or hot sauce of your choice.

Happy New Year!