Ready for the ultimate black-eyed peas recipe? This popular Southern side dish gets its flavor from salty pork belly and ham hocks and might even bring good luck when eaten on New Year’s Day.

Like grits, greens and its cousin Hoppin’ John, black-eyed peas is an iconic Southern side dish beloved by generations of folks. A cookout staple, this black-eyed peas recipe is a nonnegotiable addition when serving up soul food. It’s a phenomenal comfort food that’s deceptively easy to make.

The recipe calls for a host of delicious aromatic ingredients like garlic and onion, crushed chili flakes, thyme and pork. If you want to know the secret to life-changing black-eyed peas (the kind that has friends and family begging for your recipe), the answer is using a mix of salt pork belly and smoked ham hocks. If you’ve never cooked with ham hocks, let this Southern black-eyed pea recipe be your introduction.

Taste of Home