Since moving to Florida, I noticed that fresh peas are very popular in grocery stores. These fresh peas like field peas, butter peas, and black-eyed peas can be prepared quickly and they taste buttery when done.
This easy southern black-eyed peas recipe is my favorite, it has bold flavors. Make a big pot for your next gathering, it is delicious served with Cornbread and Southern-Style Green Beans And Potatoes.
For the purpose of this recipe, I will use dry black-eyed peas instead. Check out my Curry Black-Eyed Peas Recipes.
Southern Black-Eyed Peas (Vegan) Ingredients
- Dried Black-Eyed Peas – if dried black-eyed peas aren’t available, substitute with dried pigeon peas or cowpeas.
- Onion – white or yellow onions work great.
- Garlic – gives a great flavor, add extra if you are a garlic lover.
- Bell Pepper – I used red bell pepper but you can use any color you choose.
- Thyme – my herb of choice for this dish but you can substitute with your favorite herbs.
- Cayenne Pepper – adds a little kick to your peas, add to taste.
- Sea Salt – add salt to suit your own taste.
- Smoked Paprika or Vegan Sausage – add’s the smokey flavors.
How To Cook Black-Eyed Peas Southern Style
Soaking is not a must for your black-eyed peas but it helps to shorten cooking times, increase digestibility. Sort peas, remove debris, and wash and soak in water in a large bowl.
Allow the water to be at least 2-3 inches above peas because peas will swell. Soak peas overnight, discard water, rinse and add 6 cups of water, bring to a boil and cook until tender.
For a Southern flavor, I substituted the traditional ham hock with tofu pups hot dog to add a smoky flavor but you don’t have to at all, other options include liquid smoke, smoked paprika, even chipotle pepper, or whatever you desire.
What Do You Serve Your Southern Black-Eyed Peas (Vegan) With?
I enjoyed my black-eyed peas with Cornbread and Vegan Southern-Style Collard Greens and it was so delicious, comforting, and hearty. Hmmm, the perfect dish to enjoy during these wintry days! You can also serve it with my Cornbread Casserole.
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Categories
- Categories: Gluten-Free, Vegan
- Courses: Entrée, Main Course
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
(Per portion)- Energy: 122 kcal / 510 kJ
- Fat: 4 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Carbs: 11 g
Cook Time
- Preparation: 15 min
- Cooking: 1 h 36 min
- Ready in: 1 h 51 min
- For: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried black eyed peas, sorted and soaked overnight or for 8 hours
- 6-8 cups water, or vegetable broth
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup bell pepper, chopped (I used both red and green)
- 2 aprigs thyme, or 1 teaspoon dried
- 1/2 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
- sea salt, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 Tofu pups hot dog, or 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Add peas to 6 cups of water in a large bowl and soak overnight. Drain peas and rinse. Place peas in a large pot with 6 cups of water and bring to boil on medium-high. Cover and reduce heat to a simmer for about 45 minutes or until peas are tender. If they are drying out before being tender then add extra water or vegetable broth.
- Meanwhile, heat a small skillet over medium, cut each hot dogs into coins and saute until golden brown. Set aside.
- Stir in onion, garlic, bell pepper, thyme, cayenne, hot dog coins or smoked paprika and salt into the peas and continue to cook until sauce is thickened. Delicious served with cornbread and collards greens.
Thank you. I am looking for gluten free recipes. Thank you. Jean
Hello Jean, welcome to our website.
This is a maiden edition. It is so amazing
Where are the green beans? How can you have black eyed peas without green beans?! I love this recipe and more or less follow it. Except, I add a bay leaf or two, hotter peppers (the hotter, the better for me), some dried smoked peppers (since I ha e issues finding smoked paprika) and then add a bunch of cut up green beans. Simmer this well. If you want, at the end, add some greens (whatever you like…spinach, kale, collards, etc). Then if you absolutely need to wrap this up with some goodness, ladle the beans onto some freshly baked vegan cornbread.
Cooked it last night and it was banging!
Keila, I’m so happy you enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing your feedback with us.
Have you made it in one pot pressure cooker?
Hello Claire, yes I have one https://healthiersteps.com/recipe/vegan-instant-pot-black-eyed-peas/
I am making this dish today. Am excited to see the results. I added cumin and corinader as well. Thanks for the recipe.
Enjoy Alfajiri!
The second time you cook the peas do you drain the water or leave it in?
Hello Alison,
1. I soak the peas for at least 6-8 hours in water.
2. I drain the beans, discard the water that the peas were soaked in.
3. Rinse the peas.
4. Place peas in a large pot with 6 cups of water and bring to boil on medium-high. Cover and reduce heat to a simmer for about 45 minutes or until peas are tender
This was great! Will make black eyed peas most likely tomorrow or Thursday! I’m a vegetarian & this recipe sounds delicious! I just bought some vegan sausage the other day! Thanks so much! I’ve never made them before as I live alone but will make it & share with my grown children. I’m trying to get into cooking more. I love produce.. & my late Father used to have a grocery store. I have a sweet tooth but would like to explore vegan style or vegetarian, low sugar or healthier alternatives for dessert!
Cefe, congrats on your move to try vegan style cooking. I hope you enjoy my recipe. That is so cool that your father owned a grocery store.
I’m fairly new to dried beans and peas and such and haven’t found the “thing” that just does it for me but oh-thank-you this really does! You’re a hero and I’m now a black eyed peas eater!
Kim, I’m so happy you enjoyed it. Thank you so much for leaving your feedback. Happy New Year!
Delicious and easy!!
I made this for New Years and it was delicious. Thanks!
Chrishaun, I’m so happy you enjoyed it. Thank you for your feedback.
Happy New Year, Michelle! Thank you so much for your recipe! The veggie dogs were exactly what I’ve been missing from various vegan bean recipes. I first used your recipe for New Year’s 2020, and in the past year, your recipe has become the foundation for a lot of bean-based soup/stew stuff that I make now. Sometimes we have it as is, sometimes throw in tomatoes and whatever veggies we have on hand. I’ve spiced it up and down with different kinds of flavors. My kids love it! Once, I even made it too spicy for them but they powered through it drinking a lot of water because they loved the flavor of the black eyed peas. Happiness and health in the new year!
Heidi, that is awesome, I’m so happy you enjoyed it and I love how you make it your own. Thank you for your continued support, I really appreciate it. Happy New Year.
This recipe is delicious!! My husband and I love it!! Down home goodness and healthy to boot! What more could anyone want!!
Happy New Year Kara, I’m so happy you and your hubby enjoyed it. Thank you for your feedback.
Loved this recipe. Never cooked blackened peas before. I added some turmeric powder and a little lemon juice with. Also added kale to the recipe… the beans was delicious and had a great flavor to it… perfect for our New Years entree….
Monique, I’m so happy you enjoyed it. Thank you so much for sharing your adjustments with us. Happy New Year.
My first time making black eyed peas. It was delicious, simple to make and very flavorful. Thank you for creating such yummy recipes
Bridgette, I’m happy you enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing your feedback with us.
I love how flavorful this is and wholesome! I could eat this as a meal and can’t wait to try it!
Sounds great! Do you add the garlic, onion, etc. after the beans are cooked? Or during cooking?
Thanks!
Lenora, I first cook the peas in water until tender. Then I add the garlic, onion etc. and cook until you reach the desired thickness that you enjoy.
Very tasty even though I had to use black eyed peas from a can since I couldn’t find the dry ones. I combined it with the Southern Style Collard Greens and the Cajun Quinoa Pilaf and we had an excellent meal.
Slammin!
Thank you Shaniqua. I’m so happy you enjoyed it.
Michelle,
This dish is delicious! I added thinly sliced collard greens right to the pot at the end and cooked till wilted. Used 1/2 tsp of smoked salt and 1/4 tsp of plain sea salt. After plating I added just a dash of homemade Worcestershire! Perfect! Thanks for sharing this wonderful dish.
Absolutely delicious! I did not use the tofu dogs or oil, but the spice mixture took these black-eyed peas to another level ❤️ For the salt, I used smoked salt. I will definitely be making this again! Thank you for your recipes.