Black Eyed Peas Recipe (2024)

Southern style black eyed peas can be served year round but are said to bring luck for the New Year. Creamy, flavorful and best served with collard greens and cornbread!

Black Eyed Peas Recipe (1)

This recipe for black eyed peas is ultra comforting and flavorful! Smoky and somewhat spicy, this creamy dish is sure to be a hit with your family. It’s also 100% vegan.

You can add collard greens (or kale) directly to the pot, or serve them on the side with cornbread, of course! I’ve included an option for making them in the Instant Pot (with no soaking required). The stovetop version takes a little bit of time, but it’s almost all hands off.

Black eyed peas recipe – how to make them

First, rinse your peas and discard any that are discolored or broken. Place them in a large pot along with 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil, and cook for 2 minutes, then cover the pot, remove it from heat and let the peas soak for 1 hour without lifting the lid.

Black Eyed Peas Recipe (2)

Once the hour has passed, drain the beans, wipe out the pot and bring it back to the stovetop. Sauté the onion, celery, bell pepper and garlic in a few tablespoons of olive oil in the pot for about 4-5 minutes until the vegetables have softened.

Black Eyed Peas Recipe (3)

Now add the smoked paprika, thyme, red pepper flakes, black pepper, the softened peas and 4 cups of vegetable broth. Add the greens as well, if you want. Bring to a boil, then lower heat to simmer and cook for 1-1 1/2 hours, until a bit creamy. The peas should be soft as well. Serve and enjoy!

Black Eyed Peas Recipe (4)

Instant Pot black eyed peas

To make them in an Instant Pot, first press the sauté button. Heat the oil in the inner pot, then add the onion, celery, bell pepper and garlic. Sauté for 4-5 minutes, then turn it off for a moment. Add the smoked paprika, thyme, red pepper flakes, pepper, broth and dried (not soaked) black eyed peas.

Stir, then seal and cook at high manual pressure for 30 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally, then carefully remove the lid and serve.

Black Eyed Peas Recipe (5)

Want more recipes featuring beans?

  • The Best Vegan Baked Beans
  • Instant Pot Refried Beans
  • Mexican Rice and Beans
  • Ultimate Vegan Chili

Black Eyed Peas Recipe (6)

Black Eyed Peas Recipe

Southern style black eyed peas can be served year round but are said to bring luck for the New Year. Creamy, flavorful and best served with collard greens and cornbread!

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Soaking time: 1 hour hr

Total: 2 hours hrs 40 minutes mins

Servings: 10 servings

PrintPinCommentSave

Ingredients

  • 1 pound dried black eyed peas
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium sweet onion, diced small
  • 2 ribs celery, diced small
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced small
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • few shakes of black pepper
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • salt, to taste
  • chopped parsley, optional for topping
  • 3-4 cups chopped collard greens or kale, optional

Instructions

  • Rinse the peas and discard any that are discolored or broken. Add the peas to a large pot, along with 4 cups of water and bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes, then cover the pot, remove it from the heat and let soak for 1 hour without lifting the lid.

  • Once hour has passed and the peas have softened, drain them and set aside.

  • In the same pot you soaked the beans in, warm the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion, celery, red bell pepper and garlic and cook for 4-5 minutes until the onion is translucent and the vegetables softened.

  • Now add the smoked paprika, thyme, red pepper flakes, black pepper, the softened peas and 4 cups of vegetable broth. Stir well and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 1-1 1/2 hours, stirring every 30 minutes. If desired, add chopped greens in as well and let them cook with the peas. When the mixture is soft and a bit creamy, it is done.

  • Add salt to taste, and a few splashed of hot sauce if desired.

  • Divide into bowls and serve with a side of collard greens (unless you added them right into the pot!) and cornbread. Sprinkle with parsley. Enjoy!

Notes

  1. Instant Pot - No need to soak if you go this route. Press the sauté button, then sauté the onion, celery, pepper and garlic in olive oil for 5 minutes. Then add the spices, pepper, broth, dried beans and greens, if using. Stir. Seal and cook at high pressure for 30 minutes, then let the pressure release naturally before carefully removing the lid.
  2. Want more heat? Add 1-2 chopped jalapeños and sauté along with the other vegetables, seeds removed or some left for spicy beans! Or add extra chili flakes or hot sauce.
  3. This dish freezes well and leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1of 10 servings | Calories: 201kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 394mg | Potassium: 610mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 976IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 4mg

Course: Main, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Author: Nora Taylor

Did you make this recipe?Mention @nora_cooks_vegan_ or tag #noracooks!

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Read my full disclosure here.

About Nora

Read more about Nora

Posted In: Budget Vegan Recipes, Dinner, Gluten Free, Holiday, Instant Pot, Main Dish, Meal Type, Method, Nut Free, Side Dishes, Special Dietary Needs

you may also like:

Main Dish

Green Pasta

Main Dish

Easy Seitan

Main Dish

Vegan Lo Mein

Main Dish

Vegan Manicotti

Black Eyed Peas Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does baking soda do to black-eyed peas? ›

Bottom Line. If beans make you uncomfortably gassy, sprinkle a little baking soda into their soaking water. It will reduce the volume of gas produced by the legumes, plus, they will cook quicker. If you're even shorter on time, you may want to try some of our favorite recipes to make with a can of black beans.

How long does it take black-eyed peas to cook? ›

Soaked black eyed peas take about 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours to cook, depending on the age of the beans, how long they were soaked for and how soft you prefer them. If you're starting with frozen black eyed peas, microwave until thawed before adding them to your dish.

How to keep black-eyed peas from getting mushy? ›

As with many types of dried beans, soak them overnight in salted water. Then cook them slowly or low to medium high heat over 2 hours or so. When they are almost soft, add them to the stew or soup and let them heatt up for another hour or so. The result should be succulent, soft but not mushy.

What happens if you don t soak black-eyed peas before cooking? ›

Soak the beans (optional): Unlike the stovetop method, you don't have to soak your beans if you're cooking them in the slow cooker. If you choose to forego soaking, you will have to cook them for longer. Cook the beans: Add beans to a slow cooker and cover with two inches of water or broth.

Should you drain and rinse canned black-eyed peas? ›

Canned black-eyed peas are best in recipes that don't require slow cooking or a long cook time, which can make them mushy. If you're using canned black-eyed peas, simply rinse them in a colander to remove any liquid from the can as well as excess salt. Then you're good to go!

How much baking soda do I add to my beans to prevent gas? ›

To degas with baking soda, add a teaspoon of baking soda to 4 quarts of water. Stir in the dried beans and bring to a boil. Then turn off the heat and let the beans soak at least four hours (I usually do this the night before I want to use them; the longer soak won't hurt them). Drain, rinse and rinse again.

Why won't my black-eyed peas get soft? ›

Also, make sure to keep adding liquid (broth or water) to the peas as they cook, or they will dry out. The broth/liquid is what breaks them down and makes them tender and flavorful.

Should I soak beans in salt or baking soda? ›

Beans soaked in salt or baking soda brines performed much better in comparison to those soaked in just water. Beans brined in baking soda performed even better than those in the salt brine. This was true across the board regardless of the type of the bean.

Can you overcook black-eyed peas? ›

Drain them the next day and bring them to a boil in cold water, then reduce the heat so the water barely simmers: dried black-eyed peas can overcook, and a rolling boil could cause them to break apart. Taste the peas often to check their doneness: They should be creamy but retain their shape.

How do you know when black-eyed peas are ready? ›

Yellow pods

The yellow pod stage is ideal for shelling and cooking black eyed peas. At this point, the peas are mature and plump with high water content. Shelling is very easy at the yellow pod stage. They cook quickly (10 minutes) in a boiling pot or stir fry with a lid to help cook them.

Do you cover black-eyed peas when you cook them? ›

Drain your beans from the soaking liquid and give them a quick rinse under cold water. Place beans in a large pot and cover them with 4 inches of chicken stock. Simmer, covered, for about 1 hour. Start checking after 45 minutes to see if they are tender and add more broth or water as necessary to keep them covered.

How many cups of black-eyed peas are in a pound? ›

Black-eyed peas are often packaged in 1- or 2-pound bags. One pound of dry peas is about 2 cups. One cup of dry black-eyed peas makes 3 cups of cooked peas (6 servings).

Can you eat undercooked black-eyed peas? ›

Black-eyed peas can be eaten raw — like green peas or edamame — or dried and used for cooking, often after soaking to reduce cooking time.

How do you jazz up black-eyed peas? ›

Instructions
  1. Melt Country Crock® Spread in 3-quart saucepot. Add onion, pepper and garlic and cook about 6 minutes or until vegetables are tender-crisp. Add ham and cook 2 minutes.
  2. Simply add the canned black eyed peas, tomatoes, and the other remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer 10 minutes.

How do you jazz up a can of peas? ›

Add basic seasonings to the peas. Salt and pepper work well, but oregano, garlic powder, chili powder or a variety of different popcorn seasons can help hide the taste of the peas as well.

How to make canned field peas taste good? ›

A few household items can help improve canned peas' taste.
  1. Add basic seasonings to the peas. ...
  2. Melt cheese or butter over the peas. ...
  3. Liquefy the peas in a food processor and add the peas to your favorite fruit or vegetable juice. ...
  4. Add drained peas to your favorite type of gelatin while the gelatin sets.

What tastes good on black-eyed peas? ›

Cornbread is a must-have with black-eyed peas. Its sweet, buttery taste and crumbly texture are the perfect match for the creamy peas. You can enjoy it plain, or add some jalapeños or corn kernels for extra flavor. It's great for soaking up any juices on your plate, and it adds a comforting, homely touch to your meal.

Are canned black-eyed peas good for you? ›

Canned black-eyed peas provide important nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium and fiber. combine with other vegetables for a healthy side dish.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Gov. Deandrea McKenzie

Last Updated:

Views: 5716

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (46 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Gov. Deandrea McKenzie

Birthday: 2001-01-17

Address: Suite 769 2454 Marsha Coves, Debbieton, MS 95002

Phone: +813077629322

Job: Real-Estate Executive

Hobby: Archery, Metal detecting, Kitesurfing, Genealogy, Kitesurfing, Calligraphy, Roller skating

Introduction: My name is Gov. Deandrea McKenzie, I am a spotless, clean, glamorous, sparkling, adventurous, nice, brainy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.