What Are Black-eyed peas and How Can I Use Them?
Black-eyed peas rewards a little know-how: how to choose them, cook them, store them, and substitute in a pinch. Browse 80 recipes to cook with them.
What are black-eyed peas?
Black-eyed and yellow-eyed beans are called “peas” in the Southern US.
They are oval with either a black or yellow spot.
Blackeye peas are extensively used in soups, especially in the South where they are grown. Black-eyed peas are favored for Hopping John, a Southern living specialty.
Dried Bean Purchasing Guide
Dried beans should be clean, uniform in size and quality. Today dried beans are usually sold pre-packaged and a reliable brand will guarentee clean, uniformly sized beans.
1 pound, raw = approximately 2 1/3 cups
1 pound, cooked = approximately 6 cups
Storage
After opening the package place the unused beans in a clean, tightly covered container and store on the pantry shelf.
Kitchen shelf: 1 year
Refrigerator shelf, cooked, covered: 3 to 4 days
Refrigerator freezer, cooked beans and cooked bean dishes, prepare for freezing: 1 month
Deep Freezer, cooked beans and cooked bean dishes, prepared for freezing: 4 to 6 months
Basic Preparation
Packaged beans are usually sorted and washed before packaging, so need only be rinsed.
Bean bought in bulk should be sorted carefully, discarding broken and defective beans, and washed until the water runs clear.
It's a good idea to soak the beans to replace some of the water lost during the drying process.
In general, if directions are not given on the package, use the amount of water called for in the recipe; save the nutritious soaking water to use in cooking the beans.
There are two ways of soaking dried beans:
Quick method: Measure the soaking water into a large, heavy pot. Add the washed beans and bring to the boil. Cover the pot and cook for 2 minutes; remove from heat and let stand for one hour, then cook according to recipe directions.
Overnight method: Measure the soaking water into a large pot; add washed beans; cover pot, and let stand for 6 to 8 hours. To prevent souring and hard skins the two minute boil above is recommended even when the beans are soaked overnight.
Add one teaspoon of salt per cup of soaked beans. If ham, bacon or salt pork is to be added use a smaller amount of salt.
Always try to cook in the soaking water. Cover the pot and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer according to the recipe.
Stir carefully but not too often to avoid breaking apart the beans. When done they should hold their shape as well as be tender. Cooking time can range from 20 minutes to 1 ½ hours depending on the type of bean and how long they have been stored.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 cup (145g)Where found
Black-eyed peas are usually found in the rice & beans section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.
Food group
Black-eyed peas are a member of the Vegetables and Vegetable Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.
How much do black-eyed peas weigh?
| Amount | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1 cup | 145 grams |
Related
Vegetables and Vegetable Products
| In Chinese: | 黑眼豆豆 | |
| British (UK) term: | ||
| en français: | haricots à oeil noir | |
| en español: | guisantes de ojo negro |
Recipes using black-eyed peas
There are 80 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Texas Caviar - Superbowl
Black beans and black-eyed peas tossed with jalapeños, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, and fresh cilantro in zesty Italian dressing. No cooking required. The ultimate game day dip for a crowd.
Spicy Bean & Corn Salsa - Superbowl
Super quick and easy to make, instead of canned tomatoes, I used cherry tomatoes and made our own dressing and kept in the refrigerator for about 2 hours to let marinate; the flavor came out delicious, because of cherry tomatoes, it was more like a salad, definitely is a keeper.
Southern Living Braised Collards with Bacon & Black-Eyed Peas
Winter greens can be bitter but not when cooked this way. Perfectly complimentary flavors and belly filling warmness. If you've never tried collard greens before this recipe is more than worth the effort.
5 Bean Soup
5 bean soup simmers pinto, navy, red, great northern, and black-eyed peas with a smoky ham bone, tomatoes, and chili powder. Hearty, high-fiber, freezer-friendly bowl.
Traditional Hopping John
Along the coast of the Southern US eating Hoppin' John on New Year's Day is thought to bring a year filled with luck and prosperity. The beans symbolize coins or pennies. Sometimes a penny is added to the pot or can be left under the bowls of Hoppin' John. Greens such as Collards, chard or kale can be added and symbolize the color of money and are said to add to ones wealth in the new year. The day after New Year's Day the leftovers are called "Skippin' Jenny," and further demonstrates one's frugality. A common tradition in the south US is each person at the meal should leave three peas on their plate to ensure the New Year will be filled with Luck, Fortune and Romance. Another tradition holds that counting the number of peas in a serving predicts the amount of luck (or wealth) that will be collected over the next year.
New Year's Day Chowder
New Year is coming, this moment is always excited, it means a lot. But we always need some good recipes to celebrate it, this chowder is a great one to keep!
Smoky Beef & Black Eyed Peas
Slow cooker beef chuck roast simmered all day with black-eyed peas, carrots and green chiles, finished with a hit of hickory liquid smoke. Set it and forget it for 9 to 10 hours.
Easy Vegetable Gumbo
Rich vegetable gumbo built on a dark roux, loaded with bell peppers, onions, celery, carrots, kale, and black-eyed peas. A hearty plant-based take on Louisiana's signature stew.
Rice & Peas with Tempeh
Caribbean-style rice and peas gets a vegan upgrade with cubed tempeh, coconut-toasted brown rice, black-eyed peas, and cinnamon. A hearty plant-based main with island flavor.
Quick Black Eyed Pea Soup
A quick rendition of a tasty black-eyed pea soup that tastes amazing with a crusty bread.
Southwestern Style Black Eyed Peas
Southwestern black-eyed peas simmered with diced carrots, onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic, and hot sauce. A simple, flavorful side dish ready in 30 minutes.
Good Luck New Year's Soup
Good luck New Year's soup: a hearty mix of black-eyed peas, lentils, and beans simmered low with smoky ham, tomato, and garlic until thick. The legume-packed pot that's said to bring prosperity in the new year.
Jolof Rice
Jolof rice with black-eyed peas, eggplant, tomatoes, and brown rice cooked in a spicy tomato-ginger sauce with curry and cayenne. A hearty West African one-pot vegetarian meal.
Grilled Tenderloins
Jerk-rubbed grilled pork tenderloin served with dirty rice, black-eyed peas, chicken livers, and crumbled goat cheese. A bold Southern-meets-Caribbean main dish with serious depth of flavor.
Blackeyed Pea Crabmeat Gorditas with Vinaigrette(Pyles)*
Black-eyed pea and crab salad with bacon, roasted peppers, and fresh herbs in a bright vinaigrette. A Stephan Pyles-style Southwestern recipe served on gorditas or crisp tortillas.
Beef & Bacon Over Pasta (Fgkg27A)
A warm beef and bacon stew is served over pasta. It's delicious and fills you up. A great fall or winter dish.
Hoppin' John Salad, Vegan
Vegan Hoppin' John salad tosses black-eyed peas, brown rice, spinach, and onion in a tangy vinegar dressing. A chilled, plant-based take on the Southern New Year's tradition.
Grilled Chicken Breast & Bean Salad
Grilled mustard-coated chicken breast sliced over a mixed bean salad with black-eyed peas, fresh tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, and herbs in a balsamic vinaigrette. Served at room temperature.
Easy Lamb Creole Gumbo From Tony Burke
Lamb Creole gumbo with browned riblets, stewed tomatoes, okra, black-eyed peas, white wine, and lemon. A Cajun-Louisiana stew with a lamb twist that freezes well.
Chili Beans
Slow-cooked chili beans with dried black beans and black-eyed peas simmered with a ham hock in chicken broth. Soaked overnight, then oven-braised low and slow. Serve on their own or add to chili.
Pickled Blackeyed Peas
Pickled black-eyed peas marinated in a garlic-infused oil and red wine vinegar dressing with red onion and cayenne. A Southern make-ahead appetizer that improves over several days.
Spicy Black Eyed Pea Soup
Spicy black-eyed pea soup with bacon, jalapenos, tomatoes, and melted Swiss cheese in a beef bouillon broth. A smoky, cheesy, and spicy Southern-inspired bowl.
Not Danny Glover's Gumbo
Vegetarian gumbo with black-eyed peas, okra, corn, tomatoes, and the holy trinity in a homemade vegetable stock. A plant-based bayou bowl ready to ladle over cornbread.
Tenderloin with Sauteed Mushrooms & Texas Caviar
Slow-roasted beef tenderloin paired with wine-simmered mushrooms and zesty Texas Caviar made with black-eyed peas, cilantro and picante sauce. A Lone Star showstopper that feeds a crowd.
Chicken with Blackeye Peas
Tender chicken breast pieces cook in one skillet with rice, black-eyed peas, and sweet corn, creating a complete Southern-inspired meal that's hearty, protein-packed, and ready in 40 minutes flat.
