Grab For Eats As the countdown begins and the world prepares to usher in a brand-new year, traditions take center stage, offering us a glimpse into the cultural tapestry that colors celebrations worldwide. Among these cherished customs lies a humble yet flavorful dish that has graced New Year’s tables for generations: New Year’s Black-Eyed Peas.
If you’re seeking to infuse your New Year’s Day with a dose of tradition and a whole lot of flavor, this new years black-eyed peas recipe is your perfect gateway. Join the ranks of those who’ve embraced this time-honored ritual, and let the aroma of spices and simmering peas guide you into a year of good fortune and delectable beginnings. This simple yet hearty dish not only tantalizes the taste buds but also weaves together history, tradition, and the promise of auspicious beginnings.
Discover the essence of this cherished New Year’s tradition and bring a bit of luck and prosperity to your table with this soul-warming New Years Black-Eyed Peas recipe.
New Year’s Black-Eyed Peas Ingredients
Each ingredient of this New Year’s Black-Eyed Peas recipe adds its own special element. Let’s look at how each ingredient tingles your tastebuds.
Dried Black-Eyed Peas
The star ingredient, providing a nutty flavor and creamy texture to the dish. Alternatively, you can use canned black-eyed peas to reduce cooking time.
Water or Vegetable Broth
Provides the base for cooking the peas, adding moisture and enhancing flavor. If you’re looking for a heartier flavor try Chicken stock or other broths to your liking.
Onion and Garlic
Onion and garlic both add an aromatic essence to the dish, with the onion also adding some savory depth.
Bell Pepper and Celery
Bell peppers add some sweetness to an otherwise savory recipe. Along with the celery, the both also add some crunch to the dish.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are one of the most important ingredients in the dish. Tomatoes add acid and freshness to New Year’s Black-Eyed Peas which helps the dish feel less heavy of your taste buds.
The Spices & Herbs
Spices bring your tastebuds to life! The smoked paprika provides a smoky, earthy flavor, the dried thyme gives the dish an herbal taste, and the bay leaf provides a subtle aroma to the dish. Salt and pepper enhance each of these flavors and should be used to taste.
The Garnish
Parsley and cilantro really add to the freshness of the dish. If neither is your cup of tea, add chives or green onions as an alternative.
How to make New Year’s Black-Eyed Peas
This New Year’s Black-Eyed Peas Recipe can be done in 7 simple steps. Here’s a description of each step with some tips and tricks to help you make the best dish for your New Year’s celebration!
Step 1 – Prepare the peas
The first thing you need to do is prepare your peas. Dried black-eyed peas are typically hard and need to be rehydrated before they can be eaten. To do this, first rinse the peas then soak them. There are two soaking methods for peas: the overnight soak method and the quick-soak method.
Here’s a quick breakdown of each method. Choose whichever method best fits your schedule:
Overnight Soak Method
- Preparation: Rinse the black-eyed peas under cold water to remove any debris.
- Soaking: Place the rinsed peas in a large bowl and cover them with water, ensuring the water level is at least a couple of inches above the peas. Allow the peas to soak overnight or for about 8 hours. This extended soaking time helps soften the peas, reducing their cooking time significantly.
Quick Soak Method
- Preparation: Rinse the black-eyed peas under cold water.
- Boiling: In a pot, cover the peas with water, ensuring they’re fully submerged. Bring the water to a boil and let it cook for 2 minutes.
- Resting: After boiling, remove the pot from heat, cover it with a lid, and let the peas sit in the hot water for about 1 hour. This quickens the rehydration process and prepares the peas for cooking.
Step 2 – Cook the other ingredients
In the Dutch oven, sauté the diced onion, garlic, bell pepper, and celery in olive oil until softened. Add tomatoes, smoked paprika, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Stir.
Step 3 – Add the peas and broth
Drain the soaked peas and add them to the Dutch oven. Pour in the water or broth and mix well.
Step 4 – Simmer
Bring the Dutch oven to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 45 mins to 1 hour until peas are tender.
Step 5 – Adjust your seasoning
This is one of the most important steps in any recipe. Taste your food before you serve it. If needed, add salt or pepper to punch up the flavor.
Step 6 – Serve your dish!
Remove the bay leaf and plate the black-eyed peas. Add cilantro or parsley to garnish. If someone is looking to add a kick, you can serve with hot sauce as well
New Year’s Black-Eyed Peas Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Dutch Oven for cooking the black-eyed peas and vegetables. Make sure it's large enough to accommodate the peas and enough liquid.
- 1 Colander to rinse and drain the black-eyed peas before cooking.
- 1 Cutting Board and Knife for chopping onions, garlic, bell pepper, celery, and tomatoes.
- 1 Wooden Spoon to stir and combine ingredients while cooking
- Bowls to hold chopped vegetables or other ingredients. Also used for soaking the black-eyed peas if using the overnight method
- Measuring Spoons and Cups to precisely measure of spices, herbs, and liquids
Ingredients
- 2 cups dried black-eyed peas
- 6 cups water or vegetable broth
- 1 chopped onion
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 tomatoes, diced
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper to taste
- hot sauce optional
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Chopped fresh parsley or cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Rinse the black-eyed peas in a colander under cold running water. Soak the peas overnight in a large bowl of water. Alternatively, you can use the quick-soak method: cover the peas with water in a pot, bring to a boil, let it boil for 2 minutes, then remove from heat, cover, and let sit for 1 hour.
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat a couple of tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onions, garlic, bell pepper, and celery. Sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the diced tomatoes, smoked paprika, dried thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine with the vegetables.
- Drain and rinse the soaked black-eyed peas, then add them to the pot. Pour in 6 cups of water or vegetable broth. Stir everything together.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cover the pot. Let it simmer for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the peas are tender but not mushy, stirring occasionally.
- Taste the black-eyed peas and adjust the seasoning if needed. You might want to add more salt, pepper, or spices according to your preference.
- Remove the bay leaf before serving. Serve the black-eyed peas hot, garnished with chopped fresh parsley or cilantro. Optionally, offer hot sauce on the side for those who want an extra kick.
Nutrition
Conclusion
New Year’s Black-Eyed Peas isn’t just a recipe; it’s a timeless connection to the history and culture of the American South and promise of successful year ahead. Cook this recipe for your New Year’s celebrations and kickoff the New Year on the right foot!
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