Eating Your Way to Good Luck: WA’s New Year’s Eve Food Traditions

Auld Lang Syne might be a fun song about drinking pints with a dear, old friend, but as for me and my household, we shall be eating! I need some New Year's Eve food ideas, how about you?

via GIPHY

Celebrating the new year with food is a time-honored tradition I've grown to cherish.

One of my favorite New Year’s Eve Washington State memories is the time I was invited to a friend’s home about a decade ago, and he lived up on a steep hill. It was snowing quite heavily that night, but I didn’t let the brisk air stop me from going. Justin, the host, served us a huge bowl of Cowboy Caviar he had made. It was a dish I had never heard of before. He told me to grab a tortilla chip and scoop up the “caviar!”

I took one bite of it and fell in love! (RIP Justin!)

PASS THE PEAS LIKE WE USED TO DO…

Here in America, eating dishes that include black eyed peas are considered a way to usher in good luck in the new year by many.

In the South, if you want to usher in good luck for the new year, you’ve gotta eat some black eyed peas, collard greens, and cornbread. Mmm, mmm, mmm!

Hoppin’ John is one of the most popular new year’s eve recipes for good luck. Pork and sauerkraut are also common for New Year's Eve meals, especially in the Midwest. Pot Roast is a popular NYE option on the East Coast.

NEW YEAR’S EVE FOOD FROM AROUND THE WORLD

I think it’s so cool to see what other cultures love to eat to bring New Year’s good luck.

• Round fruits like grapes, dragon fruit, mangoes, etc. (Philippines)
• Twelve grapes, representing 12 wishes for the new year (Spain)
• Lentils (Italian)
• Toshikoshi Soba (Japan).
• Twelve grapes, representing 12 wishes for the new year (Mexico)

FUN FACT: The calennig apple is a popular good luck tradition in Wales, but it is used as a decoration, not eaten.

The most common food eaten for Chinese New Year (January 29, 2025) will be dumplings.

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WHAT WE *REALLY* LOVE TO EAT ON NEW YEAR’S EVE IN WASHINGTON STATE

Here on the West Coast (the *best* coast), we let crab, fish, and oysters take center stage as the star of the NYE show.

Taking a cue from top chefs here in Washington, the most popular New Year’s Eve menu item being served at posh prix fixe NYE meals is Pan-Seared Salmon.

Other popular foods you’ll find on fancy NYE menus across Washington include Dungeness Crab, wild foraged mushrooms, Black Cod and Sablefish, seafood spreads, creamy desserts, chocolate, and pastas with Tagliatelle, Cavatelli, and Rigatoni.

Here’s a yummy Hoppin’ John recipe you can make in the crock pot:

• Black Eyed Peas
• White Rice
• Smoked Sausage
• Seasonings
• Shredded Ham Hock

@fitslowcookerqueen Slow Cooker Hoppin’ John ✨To get to the full recipe, GOOGLE fitslowcookerqueen hoppin’ John or click the link in my profile & search there. Hoppin’ John is a hearty & flavorful recipe that uses simple, affordable ingredients. My version uses black-eyed peas, ham hocks & smoked sausage. The best part…there’s no need to presoak the black-eyed peas first! ⏺️ I serve this with rice. ⏺️ The blog post includes #instantpot instructions. 🌟More info: https://fitslowcookerqueen.com/slow-cooker-hoppin-john/ . . . . . . . . . . #fitslowcookerqueen #slowcooker #slowcookerrecipes #slowcookermeals #crockpotmeals #crockpot #crockpotrecipes #newyearsfood #blackeyedpeas #hoppinjohn #instantpot #newyearfood ♬ champagne - G Sounds