Just in time for Mardi Gras, I give you a new take on one of my favorite Cajun recipes: Hoppin’ John!
The Instant Pot makes life SO EASY when it comes to putting this dish together. It’s a complete “set and forget” kind of meal; there’s no sautéing, no browning of anything, just a dump-and-go meal that can be pieced together in less than half an hour all in. In short, it’s the perfect meal for impressing your Mardi Gras party guests without putting in a ton of work at the outset. I love it!
And Hoppin’ John isn’t just for Mardi Gras – or New Year’s Day, for that matter. No, it’s a workhorse of a recipe that has all the hallmarks of a complete meal, all in one pot. It’s got the spice of veggie-sausage. The bite of black-eyed peas. The smoothness of white rice. The tang of spicy diced tomatoes. The veneer of Cajun seasoning. It’s even got COLLARDS, for goodness’ sake! What else could you want in a dish? It’s a happy party in a pot.
The step-by-step instructions are below, but the long and short of it is: Take all the ingredients listed below, put them in piece by piece, stir everything together, and pressure cook on high for 12 minutes. Then quick-release and off you go to a festive evening – for one, for two, or for a crowd!
INSTANT POT VEGAN HOPPIN’ JOHN
Serves 4-6
What you’ll need:
1 package dried black-eyed peas
4 links veggie Andouille or Italian sausage (we like Tofurky brand), sliced into rounds
1 can Rotel
4 cups vegetable broth
1 bunch collards, chopped
1 cup white rice
2 tsps. Cajun seasoning, or to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste
Vegan parmesan for topping, optional
Soak black-eyed peas for six hours or overnight. (The longer you soak, the softer they become!)
Then, when the time comes to cook, put the peas, the sausage, the Rotel, the rice, the Cajun seasoning, the collards, and the salt and pepper into your Instant Pot, taking care not to go over the fill line. Stir the dry ingredients to mix them up a bit.
Then top with the broth and stir, mixing the ingredients together again. Don’t fret if they don’t look like they’re completely mixed; the pressure cooker will take care of the rest. But do give it a good solid stir. (It’s good for your biceps and forearms, anyway!)
Close and lock the lid to the Instant Pot, seal it up, and pressure cook on High for 12 minutes. Once it’s finished, quick-release the pressure, taking care to watch for excess broth!
Then unlock the lid, give everything a final stir, and serve. Bonus points if you transfer the Hoppin’ John to a pretty dish, but the Instant Pot liner will work just as well!
Top with vegan parmesan, if desired, as well as more Cajun seasoning to taste. And enjoy!
:)