Black Eyed Pea and Kale Salad in Salumi Cups: A New Year's Day Good Luck Appetizer

A bite size appetizer of black eyed peas and kale salad, served in salumi cups. A terrific bite to ensure good luck in the New Year.

Why is it considered good luck to eat black eyed peas on New Year's day?  Since I didn't learn about this tradition until I lived in the South as an adult, do Northerners/East Coasters/ Westerners/Midwesterners not have good luck ever?  What about folks in other countries?  Not everyone eats black eyed peas, you know.
Heavy questions for a busy time.  All I know is in addition to jumping into the New Year (from a stair, not a chair) I like to eat black eyed peas this time of year.  I'm good with these traditions--one's silly fun to do, and the other's tasty.
Sometimes I like to make Hoppin' John, sometimes I like to change it up a bit.  Here's a bite size appetizer way to get your New Year Good Luck, and if meat is not your thing, there's a bonus recipe below to an alternate salad/leftover remake.
Updated Note:  My mom emailed me that she knew salumi was not a typo but she didn't know what it was.  Salumi is the name for a category of dry cured meat.  Salami and prosciutto are examples of salumi.  I'm thinking pepperoni may be as well.  Learn something new?  I try to each day!

Black Eyed Pea Salad in Salumi Cups (makes a bunch)
(Vegan?  Skip the salumi and see the Bonus Leftover Remake recipe below)

10 ounces fresh black eyed peas, rinsed

4 cups packed washed and torn kale (ribs to the composting pig so she gets money in the new year)

1 medium onion, about 2/3 cup, finely chopped

1/2 cup finely chopped carrot and celery (blend from my freezer stash)

1 cup roughly chopped green bell pepper

1/4 to 1/3 cup cilantro leaves, chopped (stems to the composting pigs or the worm bin)

1 teaspoon hickory bacon-flavored salt

1 teaspoon lemon juice

2 Tablespoons vinaigrette of your choice

large thin slices of cured meat (I used capicola) (1 per appetizer)

The night before:  place black eyed peas in a medium pot, cover with water (at least an inch over).  Bring to a gentle boil.  After 15 minutes, add kale to the pot and stir.  Continue simmering another 15 minutes until peas and kale are tender.  Drain and set aside to cool.

In a large bowl, mix the chopped veggies, cilantro, and seasonings.  Fold in the cooled black eyed peas and kale.  Chill overnight (or at least 4 hours).

When you're ready to serve:  set the bean mixture on the counter to come to room temperature.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Place a slice of meat in each muffin cup, curling the edges up as you stuff it down into the cup.  Bake for 10 minutes until the salumi is hardened into a cup shape.

Place salumi cups on a serving tray, top with a generous tablespoon of bean mixture.  Serve!

Bonus Leftover Remake:  tear any remaining salumi into strips and toss with remaining salad.  Add a cup of cooked rice, quinoa, or barley and a couple of good glugs of balsamic vinaigrette to the salad.  Stir to combine.  Keeps a few days into the New Year so that you can ensure you'll have plenty of luck!

This is shared with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop, Tasty Tuesdays, What's Cookin' Wednesday,  From the Farm Blog Hop