How To Cook Black Eyed Peas

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Black-eyed peas (also known as Black-eyed beans) is a popular dish around the world from Portugal to India, and is also the traditional good luck meal eaten with greens on New Year’s Day in America. Today we’ll learn how to cook black eyed peas, so we can have good luck throughout the year, since they are very good for you.

Black eyed peas

How To Cook Black Eyed Peas

Before cooking, take a quick look through your beans to make sure you don’t have any dirt or rocks (ask me how I know!)

It’s best if you soak the black eyed beans overnight. But, in case you forgot, or didn’t plan on cooking black eyed peas, you can quick soak the peas. Place the peas into a pot and fill with water.  Binging the water boil for about 30 minutes, then turn the fire off and leave the beans soak for 60 minute or so.

After letting them soak for an hour, rinse well, add fresh cold water and simmer for about 30 minutes, or until desired doneness.

Various Ways To Enjoy Black-Eyed Beans

African black eyed peas on rice

Here are a few ways to cook black eyed peas using traditional west-African methods and ingredients.

Rich in calcium and Vitamin A, in west African countries including Ghana and Nigeria, cooks add red palm oil to give the dish a unique taste. Or, for healthier oil, we prefer cold pressed extra virgin olive oil.

Black eyed peas can be also be cooked with chicken, potatoes or yam and is especially delicious with fried plantain.

Below you’ll learn how to cook black eyed peas in as African-style recipe. You’ll also find suggestions for eating this healthy dish in a variety of ways to suit vegetarians and non-vegetarians.

African Black Eyed Peas Recipe

This simple, but delicious African style black eyed beans recipe is perfect for meat eaters and vegetarians alike.

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups black-eyed peas
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 4 tomatoes (or an 8oz. can of tomato chuncks)
  • 2 tbsp palm oil
  • 1.5 tbsp all Purpose seasoning
  • 2 tsp dry thyme
  • 1 dash chili powder (or more if you like it spicier)
  • 1 stock cube

Instructions
 

  • If you soaked the beans, place them in a large pot, add 4 cups of water and bring to boil on a high heat. If not, quick soak them as above), then proceed form here on.
  • Mix the chopped onion, garlic or pepper with the tomatoes and pour it into the pot of beans
  • Add the Palm-oil, seasoning, thyme and chili powder into the mixture along with the stock cube
  • Reduce the heat and leave to cook for 30 – 35 minutes, stirring every so often until the water soaks through and the beans are reddish-brown. Make sure they are soft to taste. Add more water or palm-oil if required.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Are you a visual learner? The video below will show you how to cook black eyed peas.

Variations for the African black eyed peas recipe

Adding Protein to a Black-Eyed Peas Meal

If you want more protein, add chicken or even your choice of fish to the black-eyed peas for a fuller meal. Just stir the chopped meat or fish into the pot after the other ingredients have been added and boil for 40 – 45 minutes to allow for the meat to cook thoroughly.

Add potatoes or yams

Another added extra for a more well-rounded bean dish is potatoes or yams. Just peel, slice into chunks and mix into the boiling beans.

Add fried plantain

Fried plantain is a popular accompaniment to black-eyed peas in West Africa.

Simply peel two plantains, slice either diagonally for a conical shape or vertically for circular slices, add a pinch of salt and place into an already heated pan of vegetable oil and fry until brown. When ready, serve together with the black eyed peas for a delicious meal.

Learn how to cook black eyed peas on the stove. Great to eat alone or use in delicious dishes. A Southern favorite it to pair them with collard greens and cornbread, considered a traditional New Year's meal for good luck. #BlackEyedPeas #BlackEyedPeasRecipe #HowToCookBlackEyedPeas #AndRice #Recipes

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