Here’s a classic, flavorful way to cook black-eyed peas—a versatile dish that’s perfect for sides, soups, or main meals 🌱🥘
Simple Black-Eyed Peas
Black-eyed peas are nutritious, hearty, and slightly sweet. They’re often cooked with aromatics, spices, and sometimes smoked meat for extra flavor.
🧺 Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
-
1 cup dried black-eyed peas (or 2 cups cooked/canned, drained)
-
1 small onion, chopped
-
2 cloves garlic, minced
-
1 bay leaf
-
4 cups water or low-sodium broth
-
½ teaspoon smoked paprika or 1 teaspoon regular paprika
-
Salt and pepper, to taste
-
Optional: 2 slices smoked bacon or 1 smoked ham hock
-
Optional garnish: chopped parsley or green onions
🍳 Instructions
1. Prepare the Beans
-
If using dried black-eyed peas, rinse and sort.
-
Soak overnight or do a quick soak: boil beans for 2 minutes, then let sit 1 hour. Drain.
2. Cook the Aromatics
-
In a large pot, sauté onion and garlic (and bacon if using) in a little oil until soft and fragrant.
3. Add Peas & Liquid
-
Add black-eyed peas, bay leaf, paprika, and broth/water.
-
Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
4. Simmer
-
Cover and cook 45–60 minutes (or 25–30 minutes if using soaked/canned beans) until peas are tender.
-
Stir occasionally and add water if needed.
5. Season & Serve
-
Remove bay leaf (and bacon or ham hock if using).
-
Season with salt and pepper.
-
Garnish with parsley or green onions.
-
Serve as a side dish, in soups, or with rice.
🌟 Tips
-
Quick-cooking: Use canned black-eyed peas—just rinse and add to simmering aromatics for 10–15 minutes.
-
Flavor boost: Add a splash of apple cider vinegar at the end for brightness.
-
Classic pairing: Cook with collard greens or kale for a Southern-style meal.
If you want, I can also make a spicy, one-pot black-eyed peas recipe with sausage and greens, perfect for a hearty, flavorful dinner