Ree’s black-eyed pea dip would make anyone feel lucky!
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The new year is a great time to hit the reset button and start anew. You can set yourself up for success by drafting a New Year's resolution or kick things off with an inspirational New Year’s blessing. But if you're looking for other ways to guarantee your 2024 is the best year yet, try serving up one of these New Year’s good luck foods! That’s right—one of our favorite things to do on New Year's is eat, especially when it means it might bring luck in the year ahead. Whether you’re planning a New Year’s Eve dinner party or New Year’s Day brunch, check out this list of ideas (and recipes) that symbolize prosperity, health, or happiness (depending on the food).
Of course, not everyone believes in New Year’s superstitions, but that doesn't mean these tasty foods aren't worth a try. "I've always eaten black-eyed peas on New Year's Day," Ree Drummond says, "I figure starting the new year by indulging in a juicy superstition can't hurt." And it'll taste good, too! Along with black-eyed peas, some cultures believe that grapes, noodles, pork, or pomegranates can be considered lucky when eaten on New Year's. Pick and choose a few of these traditional New Year's foods like sesame pork noodle salad (thought to symbolize longevity) or orange-vanilla scones (representing gold and wealth) or opt for a full menu of Southern comfort foods that incorporate some of these ingredients, like Hoppin' John, skillet cornbread, and collard greens. Whichever you choose, just be sure to serve it up with a glass of champagne and a New Year's toast.
1
Black-Eyed Peas
Legend has it that if you want to bring good luck in the new year, you need to eat 365 black-eyed peas on New Year's Day—one for every day of the year! A serving of Ree's Hoppin' John will likely do the trick. 😉 You can also enjoy black-eyed peas, which are actually a type of bean, in a hearty veggie burrito or a black-eyed pea dip that's loaded with cheese.
Hoppin' John
Zannie's Black-Eyed Pea Dip
Veggie Burritos with Black-Eyed Peas
Cowboy Caviar
2
Greens
This one might seem obvious, but collard greens are the color of paper money, so they're thought to symbolize a prosperous year ahead. This is especially true if eaten alongside black eyed-peas (which are round like coins) and cornbread (the color of gold). Of course, you can also swap collard greens or any other leafy green, like kale, spinach, or Swiss chard.
Collard Greens
Chicken Kale Pasta
Collard Green Salad
Sausage and Kale Quiche
3
Onions
The Greek tradition of hanging a bag of onions on your door is meant to symbolize growth and rebirth. It all started back in ancient times when people realized that onions would sprout even when they were left alone. It was the ultimate sign for luck and fertility. So go ahead and grab some onions, then put them to use in these tasty recipes. Air fryer onion rings are a great place to start!
Air Fryer Onion Rings
Blooming Onion
Caramelized Onion Dip
French Onion Pasta
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4
Champagne
A bottle of bubbly is often thought of as a symbol of luxury. In Europe, drinking champagne to celebrate a special occasion dates back to the 16th century. Today, you can find more affordable bottles of champagne available, but they'll still be overflowing with festivity. Another way to incorporate champagne into your New Year's traditions? Some people will place gold jewelry, like a ring, into their glass of champagne to symbolize wealth. Or you can try hopping three times without spilling your champagne, then splash it over your shoulder to represent letting go of the previous year.
French 75 co*cktail
Sparkling Margarita
Champagne Cupcakes
Cranberry Mimosa
5
Tamales
In Mexico, the tradition of making tamales symbolizes family. That's because families will often set aside a special time (usually between Christmas and New Year's) to make this labor-of-love that consists of masa (a type of corn dough mixture) that’s wrapped and streamed in corn husks or banana leaves. If you're looking to enjoy tamales with your family, but don't want to spend hours in the kitchen, try Instant Pot tamales or a quick and easy tamale pie!
Tamale Pie
6
Rice
If you’ve ever seen rice thrown at a wedding ceremony, you already know that it can be a symbol of prosperity and fertility. Enjoy it with beans (another symbol of luck) for a filling New Year’s Eve meal.
Rice and Beans
Sausage and Rice Stuffed Peppers
Broccoli Wild Rice Casserole
Soy-Ginger Beef Kebabs with Rice
Pumpkin Risotto
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7
Doughnuts
In the Netherlands, eating fried doughnut-like pastries called oliebollen is said to be lucky. They usually have a good dusting of powdered sugar on top.
Apple Fritters
Homemade Glazed Doughnuts
Apple Cider Doughnuts
Doughnut Hole Kebabs
8
Dumplings
Dumplings, which symbolize wealth, are often eaten as part of the Lunar New Year feast. While that celebration takes place in January or February depending on the lunar calendar, you can also make them for New Year’s Eve!
9
Soft Pretzels
Many Germans ring in the New Year with a big soft pretzel to symbolize good luck, health, and prosperity in the year ahead. According to History.com, children in the 17th century also wore pretzel necklaces on New Year’s.
Soft Pretzels
Ranch Turkey Burger on Pretzel Roll
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10
Buttered Bread
An old Irish custom considers New Year’s Day to be known as the Day of Buttered Bread. The tradition of leaving a slice of bread with butter on it outside your door was a way to banish hunger. Of course, you can always make the tradition your own by baking up a batch of fresh Irish soda bread for New Year’s brunch.
Irish Soda Bread
Homemade Cinnamon Bread
Artisan Sourdough Bread
Strawberry Butter
11
Pork
Need some inspiration this year? Take a cue from pigs who are known to push forward as they eat. (And we want to move forward, not backward in the new year.) This is just one reason why pork is considered to be lucky on New Year's. Another reason—since pork is so fatty and rich, it can symbolize wealth on New Year's Day. Try a quick and crispy pork chop made in an air fryer or the saucy shredded pork served on sandwich buns.
Air-Fryer Pork Chops
Instant Pot Sticky Pork Lettuce Wraps
Spicy Dr. Pepper Shredded Pork
Pork Marsala with Mushrooms
12
Grapes
Here's a fun New Year's tradition: as soon as the clock strikes midnight, eat 12 grapes as fast as you can. It's a good luck custom in Spain and Mexico to represent the 12 months of the year. Of course, if you want to really guarantee your luck, you can also try one of these tasty grape recipes below.
Fruit Salad with Mint Syrup
Chicken Salad with Grapes
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13
Noodles
Many countries serve noodles for their New Year’s celebration to symbolize the longevity of life. Try the sesame pork noodle salad or beef curry with sweet potato noodles, but whatever you do, don't break the noodles before you eat them (it's all part of the tradition).
Sesame Pork Noodle Salad
Beef Curry with Sweet Potato Noodles
Chicken and Vegetable Rice Noodle Soup
Simple Sesame Noodles
14
Lentils
Similar to black-eyed peas, lentils are a type of legume that look like little coins. They're typically eaten in Italy (and in other countries) on New Year’s to bring luck and good fortune. The red lentil hummus would make a great New Year's eve party snack, while the Mediterranean lentil salad would be a refreshing dish on New Year's Day.
15
Fish
Depending on the culture or country, fish is eaten on New Year's for different reasons: It can be considered a symbol of abundance because fish swim in big schools or a sign of good fortune for their shiny scales. Either way, you can't go wrong with one of these tasty fish recipes.
Parmesan Fish Sticks with Glazed Carrots
Blackened Salmon with Edamame Succotash
Spinach-Artichoke Tuna Noodle Casserole
Salmon Burgers with Sesame-Soy Glaze
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16
Pomegranates
Pomegranate seeds add a pop of color and flavor to festive New Year's eve co*cktails, like pomegranate sparklers, but they'll also bring fertility and life to those who eat them. At least, according to some people Turkey, Greece, and the Mediterranean.
Pomegranate Sparklers
Beautiful Brussels Sprouts with Pomegranate Seeds
Mulled Pomegranate-Cherry Juice
17
Ring-Shaped Cakes
It's always a good time for cake—especially if you're celebrating a special occasion like ringing in the New Year. A round, ring-shaped cake in particular is known to represent the full circle of life. Try one of Ree's crowd-pleasing Bundt cakes in pumpkin spice or lemon-lime flavor or go for something unexpected like a round-shaped monkey bread.
Pumpkin Spice Cake
Lemon-Lime Pound Cake
Monkey Bread
Baked Crumb Cake Doughnuts
18
Cornbread
Here's another symbol of gold for your New Year's table: cornbread! Combine this Southern favorite with black-eyed peas and collard greens for triple the luck.
Skillet Cornbread
Instant Pot Carnitas with Cornbread
Cornbread Waffles with Spicy Chicken
Cornmeal Muffins with Blackberry Jam
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19
Oranges
During Chinese New Year, citrus fruits like kumquats, tangerines, and oranges are all considered good luck. Their bright color is associated with happiness and fortune, which is why they're often shared among family and used in decorations. They have a refreshing burst of flavor, too.
Sunrise Fruit Salad
Petite Orange-Vanilla Scones
Sidecar co*cktail
Chocolate Crepes with Orange Cream Cheese Filling
20
Cabbage
In parts of Eastern Europe, cabbage is considered lucky because of its green color (similar to kale and collards), but it's also a traditional New Year's food due to timing—cabbage is harvested in late fall and often fermented or made into sauerkraut just in time for New Year's. Try your hand at making your own sauerkraut or incorporate cabbage in quicker recipes like colorful coleslaw.
Edna Mae's Escalloped Cabbage
Colorful Coleslaw
Purple Resolution Smoothie
Homemade Sauerkraut