Cheers to a New Year and another chance to get it right.
-Oprah Winfrey
Love this quote by Oprah because I truly do look at each new year as a way to reset myself. You can’t change your past but you always have a chance to change your future and be healthier both physically and mentally!
…So I didn’t realize this until recently but apparently eating “lucky” food on New Years Day isn’t something everyone around the country does, in fact, it is a pretty southern specific tradition. In case this tradition is not something you have celebrated before I will do my best to explain it so you can join in on the fun!
New Year’s Day is seen as the start of your “new year, new me” phase, and in an effort to help you have the best year ever there are certain foods that can help set you on the right path. Different foods symbolize different actions such as luck, wealth and prosperity. Because of these meanings a traditional New Years Day meal consists of foods such as pork, collards, black eyed peas and corn. Eating these foods will help kick start your year and help you continue to have a successful year all 12 months.
While I like the thought behind what each food means, I don’t LOVE collards or black eyed peas. Thankfully with a little research I was able to find out that you don’t have to have those specific foods to have a “lucky” meal, just food in those categories. That is why I decided to change up my traditional meal this year and created these New Years Day Breakfast Tostadas (made 3 different ways) that will bring just as much luck! 
What is the meaning behind each food selected for New Years Day?
While I explain how to make the meal, I will also explain the symbolism behind the food!
Corn = GOLD! While the traditional southern meal would have cornbread, I changed it up a bit this year with gluten free corn tortillas…I mean nothing says give me all the gold quite like a tortilla, am I right!?!
Beans = Coins/Wealth! Black eyed peas are the main bean made in any southern NYD meal and it is also traditional to leave 1 black eyed pea on your plate at the end of the year for luck. This year I am changing it up with refried black beans. They are 1) incredibly delicious and 2) make for the perfect foundation for this delicious tostada!
Greens = MONEY! It is traditional to have collards on your plate in an effort to make sure that you will be wealthy throughout the year. I apologize now to my fellow southerners but I hate collards, so I interchanged collard with spinach to make me just as profitable throughout the year!
Pork = Prosperity! In many cultures pigs are seen as lucky because pigs root forward. In an effort to root your year forward, it is important to have pork on your plate which is why I sauteed up cubed ham to add to my dish!
While there is literally no symbolism behind an egg, can I make a quick confession?
I have never eaten nor cooked a fried egg in my life. I have always been grossed out by yolks and never understood why someone would like the idea of it running all over their food.
After making these tostadas, I now get it. The fried egg paired perfectly with the other ingredients in the dish to really bring the breakfast to life. And a plus, frying an egg was so fun to do!
I may not be eating them every time I have eggs but fried eggs will now be thrown into the rotation!
How to assemble your breakfast tostadas:
First coat both sides of your corn tortillas with olive oil cooking spray and lightly sprinkle with salt. Bake them in the oven for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Next in a frying pan add your spinach, a little cooking spray and salt. Saute everything together until spinach begins to wilt. Remove from the pan and set aside.
Heat up your ham in the same frying pan after you finish with your spinach. At the same time, microwave refried black beans for 1-1 1/2 minute until warm.
Finally cooking 1 egg at a time, add 1/2 tbsp butter into your pan. When butter is melted add egg into pan and top with black pepper. Cook for a 1-2 minutes until whites begin to turn color, cover your pan and continue to let the egg fry for 1-2 minutes until whites are completely cooked.
Breakfast Tostadas made 3 ways:
1. Traditional: Onto a corn tortilla, spread on 1/3 portion of refried black beans. Next layer on 1/3 portion of spinach and ham. Top with fried egg.
2. Add avocado: Set up your breakfast tostada following the traditional route then add sliced avocado to give your dish a fun southwestern twist. (Plus avocados could be seen as extra money!)
3. Add pico de gallo: I love adding acidity to my dishes and pico is no exception. Create a traditional tostada and top with pico to give your dish a spicy twist!
I can’t think of a better way to kick off the best year ever than with a traditional “lucky dish” and I think these Breakfast Tostadas help celebrate that tradition in a fun creative way.
However you decide to celebrate the New Year I hope that it is filled with friends and family and your 2018 is your best year yet!
ENJOY!
Shop the Post:
- 3 large eggs
- 3 small corn tortillas
- 3 cup spinach, fresh
- 1/4 cup refried black beans
- 1/4 cup ham, cubed
- 1 1/2 tbsp butter, unsalted
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/8 tsp salt
- pico de gallo, optional
- avocado, optional
- olive oil cooking spray
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
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Place corn tortillas onto baking sheet. Spray both sides with olive oil.
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Bake corn tortillas for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through.
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Remove from oven and set aside.
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Spray frying pan with olive oil spray and add in spinach. Cook spinach over medium heat for 2-4 minutes until begins to look "wilted".
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Sprinkle spinach with salt. Remove from pan and set aside.
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Into the pan, add ham, cook over medium heat for 2-4 minutes until warmed through. Again, remove from pan and set aside.
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Heat refried black beans for 1-1 1/2 minutes until warmed.
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Finally, cook your eggs (cook 1 egg at a time).
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Crack an egg into a small bowl. Into the frying pan heat up 1/2 tbsp of butter over low-medium heat.
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When butter is melted, carefully pour egg into the pan. Sprinkle on 1/3 portion of black pepper onto egg then allow to fry for 2 minute until whites begin to show their color.
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Cover pan with lid and cook egg for 2 more minutes until all whites are cooked. Remove egg and complete steps until all are cooked.
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Assemble your breakfast tostadas. Begin by adding a scoop of black beans to your corn tortilla, spread it out out across the tortilla.
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Top the black beans with sauteed spinach and then ham. Finally top tostada with fried egg.
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Optional: Add freshly sliced avocado or pico de gallo to tostada. Serve immediately and enjoy!
This is so fun! So interesting to hear the symbolism behind all the foods – we may have to try these this year!
I didn’t always understand why my mom was making us eat certain foods as a child on NYD but now I love the tradition and the meanings behind everything!
Let me know if you try them!
In many cultures, eggs are a symbol of life, rebirth, fertility, etc. ๐
You are completely right, I love that Karen!