3 Perfect Recipes to Ring in the New Year

Whether it's eating 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight in Spain or polishing off a marzipan pig in Germany, people around the globe celebrate New Year’s Day with culinary traditions in hopes of bolstering good fortune in the months to come. Here, we asked a few of our favorite food pros to share what they cook to bring joy, comfort, and the promise of a fresh start.

Atlanta-based chef Todd Richards spices up his family’s recipe forHoppin’ Johnwith harissa, Sydney-based writer Yasmin Sabir shares her secrets for makingdiamonds of coconut ricetopped with Sri Lankan sambal, and cookbook author Zoe Adjonyoh, of London, fries up crispyGhanaian yam pattiestopped with perfectly jammy eggs. Start a new tradition by preparing these dishes on January 1, or enjoy them throughout the year to commemorate new beginnings of any kind.

“What I always loved about my great-aunt’s Hoppin’ John was how spicy it was. Her version had a good amount of crushed red pepper flakes and black pepper. My recipe leans on harissa to bring an earthy heat; it’s a perfect match for the meaty black-eyed peas in this dish.”—Todd Richards

“Kiribath is one of the most auspicious foods in the Sinhalese culture (the culture of the majority of Sri Lankans). It signifies new beginnings and prosperity— it’s often given as a baby’s first solid food, and it’s customary for it to be the first thing cooked when you move into a new house.”—Yasmin Sabir

“Hugely symbolic in many cultures around the world, the egg represents life itself. Oto, the vehicle in Ghanaian cuisine for the humble egg, is the dish by which new beginnings are celebrated: births, engagements, and more. It’s a great way to celebrate the new year and new possibilities.” —Zoe Adjonyoh