Description
This classic black eyed peas recipe is hearty, flavorful, and perfect for any day of the year, especially popular during New Year celebrations for good luck. Enjoy your delicious batch of black eyed peas!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound dried black eyed peas
- 6 cups water or chicken broth
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 smoked ham hock (or smoked turkey leg if preferred)
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Optional: 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes for some heat
Instructions
- Rinse and Sort: Begin by rinsing the black eyed peas under cold water. Remove any stones or debris.
- Soak: Optional but recommended – soak the peas overnight in cold water. This reduces cooking time and helps make them more digestible.
- Cook the Aromatics: In a large pot, sauté the onion and garlic until the onion becomes translucent. This builds a flavorful foundation for the peas.
- Cook the Peas: Drain the soaked peas and add them to the pot. Add the water or chicken broth, smoked ham hock, bay leaf, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Simmer: Reduce the heat to a low simmer, cover, and let it cook for about 1 to 1.5 hours or until the peas are tender. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Finish: Remove the ham hock, let it cool slightly, then shred the meat and return it to the pot. Discard the bay leaf. Adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper if necessary.
Notes
- If you forgot to soak the peas overnight, you can use a quick soak method: cover the peas with water, bring to a boil, turn off the heat, and let them sit for an hour before draining and using in the recipe.
- The consistency of the peas can be adjusted by adding more water or broth during cooking if they seem too thick.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes (not including soaking)
- Cook Time: 1.5 hours
- Category: Lunch
Nutrition
- Serving Size: This recipe serves about 6 to 8 people.
- Calories: Approximately 200 calories per serving (based on 8 servings without counting the optional ingredients).
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: varies based on the amount of added salt and type of broth used
- Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 11g
- Protein: 13g
Keywords: black eyed peas dish, cooking black eyed peas, prepare black eyed peas