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    Home » Recipes » Appetizers and Side Dishes

    Southern Vegetarian Black-Eyed Peas Recipe

    Published: Dec 30, 2022 by Briana · This post may contain affiliate links where I may receive compensation. Please see my disclosure for details.

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    This Southern Vegetarian Black-Eyed Peas Recipe is a hearty and soulful dish. It’s southern flavored black eyed peas without the meat. Enjoy this classic dish on New Year’s Day to bring you good luck throughout the year.

    Southern Vegetarian Black-eyed Peas in pot with black spoon and white plate with cornbread on the side.
    Jump to Recipe

    Ever since I can remember, black-eyed peas and collard greens were an important tradition for dinner on New Year’s Day in my family. Not only are they a soulful and comforting dish, but it’s also believed to bring good luck and prosperity in the New Year. You can cook these stovetop black-eyed peas the night before or on New Year's Day to bring some good luck into your New Year.

    This quick and easy recipe is made with canned black-eyed peas and is perfectly seasoned, making this a warm and comforting side dish that’s made in under 30 minutes. Since this recipe is made without meat, this vegan black eyed pea recipe is cooked in liquid smoke and seasoned with smoked paprika to give the peas a nice smoky flavor, just like they'd have when cooked using a traditional ham hock. And if that isn’t enough, one other seasoning for black-eyed peas used in this recipe are jalapenos, for an extra spicy flavor.

    What are Black Eyed Peas?

    Black eyed peas are native to Africa. They are a medium sized bean and are in the family of cowpeas. Both beans and peas are a type of legume. They are tan beans with a black dot, “an eye”, in the center. Black eyed peas are soft and taste nutty and earthy. Although they’re small, they’re nutrient-dense and packed with potassium, iron, protein, and fiber in each serving. 

    Black folks southern black eyed peas are often added to soups and stews. They’re typically flavored with smoky or spicy seasonings which makes these flavorful beans the perfect New Year’s Day dish to add to your tradition. 

    Southern Vegetarian Black-eyed Peas in a white bowl with a slice of cornbread on top

    Why Do We Eat Black-eyed Peas on New Year’s Day?

    My mom always said the more black-eyed peas and collard greens you ate on New Year’s Day, the more money or luck you would have during that year.

    Southern superstition says that eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day will bless you with good luck for the New Year. Southern superstition also says you should eat the black-eyed peas with collard greens, which represent financial prosperity for the New Year.

    The black eyed peas stew and collard greens are often paired with a side of cornbread, which the color represents gold. There’s nothing like soaking up the juice from the peas or greens with a hunk of buttery cornbread. 

    Equipment You’ll Need

    • Medium sized pot - to cook the black-eyed peas in
    • Large Spoon - for stirring the ingredients 
    • Measuring Utensils - to measure out the seasonings 

    Ingredients You’ll Need

    You only need a few simple ingredients to make this southern vegan black-eyed peas recipe. Here’s what you’ll need:

    • Olive Oil -  I love using olive oil when cooking. You can also use avocado as a substitute. 
    • Onion - either white or yellow onions works great in this recipe.
    • Bell pepper - this recipe uses a mixture of red bell pepper and green bell pepper 
    • Garlic - adds great flavor to this dish
    • Black eyed peas - to make this recipe quick and easy, canned black eyed peas are used for this recipe. You can use dried black eyed peas however allow extra time (at least 6 hours) for the black eyed peas to soak prior to cooking. 
    • Vegetable broth - I use vegetable broth in almost all of my recipes where broth is needed. Feel free to use your favorite broth instead. 
    • Jalapeño - This ingredient is optional, however, if you prefer things a little on the spicy side, it’s a must-have. You can also substitute it with red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, hot sauce or simply omit it all together for less heat.
    • Liquid smoke - since these vegetarian black-eyed peas do not have any meat, it uses liquid smoke as a seasoning to add in a smoky flavor that you would typically get from the meats. 
    • Seasonings - Some of the seasoning for black eyed peas in this recipe are smoked paprika, sea salt and ground black pepper. You’ll also get some flavor from the liquid smoke and the jalapeno also used. Additional seasonings you may like is adding in some cayenne pepper for extra spice or a bay leaf for added flavor. 
    Black-eyed Peas Ingredients in clear glass bowls

    How to Cook Black Eyed Peas without Soaking

    Since this recipe uses canned black eyed peas, you’ll be cooking them on the stove and they’ll be ready in less than 30 minutes. Here’s how: 

    1. Drain and rinse the canned black eyed peas and set aside.
    2. Place a medium sized pot with olive oil over medium heat. Once hot, add the diced onions and sauté for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are tender and almost translucent.
    3. Toss in the bell pepper and minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute or until tender and fragrant.
    4. Add all the remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Turn the heat up to medium-high and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and cover the pot with a lid. Let the black eyed peas cook for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. If you notice there's too much liquid you can remove the lid to allow some of the liquid to evaporate.
    5. Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. You can add more paprika and/or liquid smoke for smokiness or salt and pepper to taste.
    Black-eyed Peas Ingredients, bell pepper and onions, sautéing in a black pot
    Black-eyed Peas Ingredients Cooking in a black pot with a black spoon

    How are Black-eyed Peas Served?

    You can serve the vegetarian black eyed peas on their own. Personally, I like to eat them on top of some white rice. Sometimes I’ll make some cornbread to pair along with it. Black-eyed peas are most popular for being served along with collard greens on New Year's Day.

    Storage and Reheat

    • The leftover vegan black eyed peas can be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. 
    • If you wish to freeze them for later use, let them cool to room temperature before placing them in a freezer friendly air-tight container and placing them in the freezer for up to 1 month. 
    • To reheat, let them thaw overnight in the fridge. When you’re ready to eat them, add them to a pot on medium-low heat or in a microwave, until warmed. You may add more vegetable broth if needed.
    Southern Vegetarian Black-eyed Peas in pot with black spoon and white plate with cornbread on the side.

    Recipe FAQ

    Are black-eyed peas a bean or pea? 

    Surprisingly, black-eyed peas are not peas at all. The bean is related to the family of cowpeas and it’s categorized as legumes.

    How do you cook black-eyed peas?

    Black-eyed peas are traditionally cooked on the stove top in a pot. A new age way of cooking black-eyed peas is to pressure cook black eyed peas in a slow cooker or an Instant Pot. Both ways are equally delicious.

    Do you rinse canned black-eyed peas?

    Yes. Rinse them in a colander to remove any excess liquid from the can as well any excess salt from the liquid in the can.

    How long do you cook black-eyed peas?

    If you opt for canned black-eyed peas, they’ll be ready in about 30 minutes. If you wish to use dry black-eyed peas allow extra time (at least 6 hours) for the peas to soak prior to cooking. 

    How do you cook dry black-eyed peas?

    The method for cooking dry black-eyed peas is the same as cooking canned the peas. The only difference is you will need to soak the dry black-eyed peas for at least 6 hours prior to cooking them. 

    Do black-eyed peas need to soak? 

    It's not necessary to soak the black-eye peas before cooking them; however it does speed up the cooking time. Dry black eyed peas not soaked will cook in about an hour. 

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    Southern Vegetarian Black-eyed Peas in pot with black spoon and white plate with cornbread on the side.
    Pin Recipe Print Recipe
    4.72 from 7 votes

    Southern Vegetarian Black-Eyed Peas Recipe

    This Southern Vegetarian Black-Eyed Peas Recipe is a hearty and soulful dish. It’s southern flavored black eyed peas without the meat. Enjoy this classic dish on New Year’s Day to bring you good luck throughout the year.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time25 minutes mins
    Total Time35 minutes mins
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: black eyed peas, vegetarian
    Servings: 6
    Author: Briana

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • ½ cup yellow onion diced
    • ½ cup green or red bell pepper diced
    • 3 cloves garlic minced
    • 15.8 ounces black eyed peas
    • 1 cup vegetable broth
    • 1 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ½ medium jalapeño omit for less heat
    • ½ teaspoon liquid smoke or more to taste
    • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt to taste
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper to taste
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions

    • Drain and rinse the canned black eyed peas and set aside.
    • Place a large pot with olive oil over medium heat. Once hot, add the diced onions and sauté for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are tender and almost translucent.
    • Toss in the bell pepper and minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute or until tender and fragrant.
    • Add all the remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Turn the heat up to medium-high and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and cover the pot with a lid. Let the black eyed peas cook for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. If you notice there's too much liquid you can remove the lid to allow some of the liquid to evaporate.
    • Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. You can add more paprika and/or liquid smoke for smokiness or salt and pepper to taste.
    • Serve the vegetarian black eyed peas on their own or you can serve them over rice, with cornbread, or along with meatless collard greens.
    • Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, or in the freezer for 1 month.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 121kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 0.5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 356mg | Potassium: 271mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 401IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 2mg

    Disclaimer

    Although HalfPastHungry.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on which products you use, the brand that was purchased, or in other unforeseeable ways. HalfPastHungry.com will not be held liable for any reliance on given nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your physician first.

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    About Briana

    Briana is the blogger, recipe developer and food photographer behind HalfPastHungry. She's been blogging since 2017 sharing thyroid friendly and plant-based recipes that are easy to make, healthy and nutritious.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Montana Jan says

      July 29, 2024 at 12:07 pm

      5 stars
      Made a double recipe for just the two of us, and I’m glad I did! I’m using it as a meatless main dish with steamed veggies and toast of corn chips. It is very satisfying.

      Reply
      • Briana says

        August 03, 2024 at 4:51 pm

        Sounds amazing! I'll have to try that out. Thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    4.72 from 7 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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    Hi! My name is Briana. 
    After being diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer in my early 20's, I struggled with hypothyroidism and weight gain, which started me on my plant-based journey. HalfPastHungry is your source for beginner friendly plant-based recipes that are easy to make, healthy and nutritious and make eating plant-based easier for you.

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