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southern style black eyed peas recipe

Southern style black eyed peas recipe

A traditional, comforting Southern style black eyed peas recipe featuring smoky bacon and aromatic vegetables, perfect for good luck or a hearty meal.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Southern
Calories: 400
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 pound dried black-eyed peas sorted and rinsed
  • 1 pound smoked bacon cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 large bell pepper chopped
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
Seasonings
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Equipment

  • Large Pot or Dutch Oven

Method
 

  1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon from the pot and set aside, reserving a little rendered fat in the pot.
    1 pound smoked bacon
  2. Add the chopped onion, garlic, and bell pepper to the pot and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 5-7 minutes.
    1 large onion, 3 cloves garlic, 1 large bell pepper
  3. Add the black-eyed peas, chicken broth, thyme, cumin, salt, and pepper to the pot. Stir to combine.
    1 pound dried black-eyed peas, 2 cups chicken broth, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, Salt and pepper
  4. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30-40 minutes, or until the peas are tender. (Time may vary based on whether peas were pre-soaked).
  5. Stir in the cooked bacon and olive oil. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Serve hot over rice or with cornbread.
    1 pound smoked bacon, 2 tablespoons olive oil

Notes

Sorting and rinsing the dried black-eyed peas is crucial. You can pre-soak the peas for an hour or overnight if you prefer, which may slightly reduce the simmer time. For an even richer flavor, you can use a smoked ham hock instead of or in addition to bacon.