Best 3 Down Home Black Eyed Peas Recipes

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**Black-eyed peas: A Southern staple with a colorful history**

Black-eyed peas are a Southern staple with a colorful history. Thought to have originated in Africa, these small, creamy legumes were brought to the Americas by enslaved people and quickly became a staple in Southern cuisine. Today, black-eyed peas are enjoyed all over the world, and they're especially popular on New Year's Day, when they're said to bring good luck and prosperity.

This article features three delicious black-eyed pea recipes that are sure to please everyone at your table. The first recipe is for a classic Southern black-eyed peas and rice dish. This simple but flavorful dish is made with just a few ingredients, and it's the perfect comfort food for a cold winter day. The second recipe is for a more creative black-eyed pea salad. This salad is packed with fresh vegetables and herbs, and it's a great way to enjoy black-eyed peas in the summer. The third recipe is for a black-eyed pea soup. This hearty soup is perfect for a cold winter day, and it's also a great way to use up leftover black-eyed peas.

No matter how you choose to prepare them, black-eyed peas are a delicious and nutritious addition to any meal. So next time you're looking for a new recipe to try, give one of these black-eyed pea recipes a try. You won't be disappointed!

Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!

BLACK-EYED PEAS WITH BACON AND PORK



Black-Eyed Peas with Bacon and Pork image

Provided by Patrick and Gina Neely : Food Network

Categories     side-dish

Time 14h20m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 pound dried black-eyed peas (fresh or canned black-eyed peas can be substituted)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
6 ounces pork shoulder, diced into 1/2-inch cubes
4 strips thick sliced bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 medium onion, small diced
4 garlic cloves, sliced
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
4 cups chicken stock
2 cups water
3 bay leaves
Hot-pepper vinegar, as desired

Steps:

  • If using dried black-eyed peas, put them in a large pot and cover with about 4 inches of water. Soak the peas overnight, then drain the water and rinse. Alternatively, you can "quick-soak" the peas by bringing them and the water to a boil for 2 minutes. After this, remove them from the heat, cover the pot and soak the peas for 1 hour. Then, drain and rinse the peas.
  • Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the pork. Sear until the pork is browned on all sides, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the bacon, onion and garlic to the pot and cook, stirring, until the onion and garlic are lightly browned, about 6 to 8 minutes. Add the salt, black pepper, cayenne and garlic powder. Cook until the entire mixture is coated with the spices, about 2 minutes. Pour in the stock and water and drop in the bay leaves. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for about 30 minutes.
  • When the pork begins to fall apart, add the prepared peas to the pot and simmer until the peas are very soft, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours (see Cook's Note).
  • Taste for seasonings, and add some hot-pepper vinegar, if desired. Discard the bay leaves and transfer the black-eyed peas to a serving bowl.

SOUTHERN BLACK-EYED PEAS



Southern Black-Eyed Peas image

I find pork the secret to a good black-eyed pea recipe. A double dose of ham for flavor and slow and gentle cooking creates this perfect side dish. -Emory Doty, Jasper, Georgia

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Side Dishes

Time 1h5m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 pound dried black-eyed peas, sorted and rinsed
1 large onion, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 ounces sliced salt pork belly, chopped
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 carton (32 ounces) reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 smoked ham hocks

Steps:

  • Place peas in a Dutch oven; add water to cover by 2 in. Bring to a boil; boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand for 1 hour. Drain and rinse peas, discarding liquid; set aside., In the same pan, saute onion in oil until tender. Add the pork belly, garlic, bay leaves, thyme, pepper flakes and pepper; cook 1 minute longer., Add the broth, ham hocks and peas; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 35-40 minutes or until peas are tender, stirring occasionally and adding more water if desired., Discard bay leaves. Remove ham hocks; cool slightly. Remove meat from bones if desired; finely chop and return to pan. Discard bones. If desired, top with additional fresh thyme.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 359 calories, Fat 11g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 5mg cholesterol, Sodium 788mg sodium, Carbohydrate 48g carbohydrate (9g sugars, Fiber 14g fiber), Protein 20g protein.

NEW YEAR BLACK EYED PEAS



New Year Black Eyed Peas image

A delicious New Year's Eve recipe to bring you luck in the new year! I sometimes just use the ham bone and some of the surrounding meat from the traditional Christmas ham that I make each year, but the ham hocks also add a nice, smokey, rustic flavor of their own.

Provided by MAYAESR

Categories     Side Dish     Beans and Peas

Time 11h20m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 pound dry black-eyed peas
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 (32 ounce) cartons chicken broth
8 cups water
1 pound smoked ham hocks
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
5 pepperoncini peppers
1 bay leaf
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon ground thyme
salt and pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Place the black-eyed peas into a large container and cover with several inches of cool water; let stand 8 hours to overnight. Drain and rinse before using.
  • In a large stock pot over medium heat, cook and stir onion and garlic in olive oil until onion becomes translucent, about 5 minutes. Pour in the chicken broth and 8 cups water, bring to a boil, and reduce heat to a simmer. Stir in soaked black-eyed peas, ham hocks, tomatoes, pepperoncini, bay leaf, garlic powder, thyme, and salt and pepper. Cover and simmer until peas are tender, ham meat is falling off the bones, and the broth is thickened, about 3 hours.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 306.6 calories, Carbohydrate 27.9 g, Cholesterol 35.3 mg, Fat 13.4 g, Fiber 8.1 g, Protein 18.1 g, SaturatedFat 3.9 g, Sodium 1281 mg, Sugar 6.3 g

Tips:

  • Soak the beans overnight: This helps to reduce the cooking time and makes the beans more digestible.
  • Use a variety of vegetables: This adds flavor and nutrients to the dish.
  • Don't overcook the beans: They should be tender but still have a little bit of a bite to them.
  • Season the dish to taste: Use salt, pepper, and other spices to your liking.
  • Serve the black-eyed peas with your favorite sides: Such as cornbread, rice, or collard greens.

Conclusion:

Black-eyed peas are a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. They are a good source of protein, fiber, and vitamins. This recipe is a great way to make black-eyed peas at home. It is easy to follow and can be customized to your liking. So next time you're looking for a hearty and flavorful meal, give this recipe a try.

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