New Year's Black-Eyed Peas and Greens

This was a fantastic vegan salad and a great addition to our Christmas dinner. The whole family loved it...but they were not so keen on the kale. When I make this again, I think I'll substitute uncooked greens, such as spinach.

“Eat poor on New Year’s, and eat fat the rest of the year,” goes the saying in the American South, where black-eyed peas are eaten at New Year’s for luck and good fortune. The peas are said to represent coins, and are often eaten alongside collard greens, which represent paper money, as well as golden cornbread. 
This version replaces the collards with superfood kale.

• ½ lb. dried black-eyed peas (1¼ cups)
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 Tbs. red wine vinegar
• 1¾ tsp. salt, divided
• 1 12-oz. bunch kale, stems removed, leaves torn into pieces
• 2 Tbs. lemon juice, divided
• 2 large tomatoes, seeded and diced (1½ cups)
• 2 Tbs. olive oil
• 4 green onions, sliced (½ cup)
• ¼ cup finely chopped fresh parsley
• 1 Tbs. finely chopped fresh oregano

1. Set peas in saucepan, and cover with boiling water; let sit 1 hour. Drain, return peas to saucepan, cover with fresh water, and add bay leaf. Bring to a boil, and cook 20 minutes. Add vinegar and 1 tsp. salt, and cook 10 to 25 minutes longer, or until peas are tender but keep their shape.
2. Bring large pot of salted water to a boil. Add kale, and boil 3 to 5 minutes, or until tender. Drain, and toss with 1 tsp. lemon juice.
3. Toss tomatoes with 1/4 tsp. salt in colander. Let sit, shaking occasionally, 
to drain juices.
4. Combine remaining 1/2 tsp. salt, remaining 5 tsp. lemon juice, oil, 
green onions, parsley, and oregano in large bowl.
5. Drain peas, and remove bay leaf. 
Add to bowl with lemon juice and herbs, and mix well. Add tomatoes, and mix again. Serve warm, with kale on side.

PER 1-CUP SERVING: 196 cal; 10 g prot; 6 g total fat (<1g sat fat); 28 g card; 0 mg chol; 701 mg sod; 8 g fiber; 6 g sugars

This does take time, but it was well worth it. I can't wait to make it again soon!

Original Source: Vegetarian Times, December 2013, p. 68