Black-eyed peas hold a special significance in the heart of every African-American. We eat them for good luck on New Year’s in a rice dish known as hoppin’ John. That tradition comes from a long history of black-eyed peas symbolizing luck and prosperity in Africa, where they’re part of spiritual ceremonies too. They’re a part of our culinary DNA. And they’re delicious.  

　　  

　　Black-eyed peas are tender, skin to center, and this helps them soak up sauces. Because they’re nice and mild, I drench them with a hot sauce dressing, honeyed yet sharp with garlic and mustard. In this salad, cucumbers and onion balance the peas’ creaminess with crunch, and tomatoes burst juiciness. Down South, we call this a sitting salad. It can sit on the summer picnic table without wilting, so it’s the perfect potluck dish. Get ready for this salad to become one of your favorites.

　　

Ingredients

4 servings

　　2 garlic cloves, grated on a Microplane

　　2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

　　1 tablespoon yellow mustard

　　1 tablespoon hot sauce

　　1 teaspoon honey

　　Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

　　6 tablespoons vegetable oil

　　1 (15-ounce) can black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained

　　2 mini cucumbers, cut into ½-inch dice

　　½ sweet onion, finely chopped

　　1 pint cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes, halved

　　¼ cup picked fresh dill

　　

Step 1

Whisk the garlic, vinegar, mustard, hot sauce, honey, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper in a large bowl until smooth. While whisking, add the oil in a slow, steady stream. Whisk until emulsified.

　　

Step 2

Add the peas, cucumbers, onion, tomatoes, dill, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Toss until well mixed. You can serve this right away or let it sit at room temperature for up to 1 hour.

　　

Step 3

DO AHEAD: The salad can be refrigerated for up to 1 day.

　　From Carla Hall's Soul Food: Everyday and Celebration © 2018 by Carla Hall. Reprinted with permission by Harper Wave, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.Buy the full book from HarperCollins or from Amazon.