Description
Hearty black eyed peas slow-cooked with smoky ham hock create a soul-warming Southern classic. Rich, flavorful beans meld perfectly with aromatic herbs, promising a comforting meal you’ll savor to the last bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (0.45 kg) dried black-eyed peas (soaked overnight or quick-soaked)
- 1 cup diced smoked ham (or a ham hock)
- 4 cups (946 ml) chicken or vegetable broth
- 2 cups (473 ml) water
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- ¼ tsp thyme (dried or fresh)
- ½ tsp hot sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Sort and rinse black-eyed peas under cool running water, removing any debris or damaged legumes.
- Layering: Transfer cleaned peas to crockpot, then strategically arrange diced onions, bell peppers, minced garlic, and chopped ham to create a flavor-rich foundation.
- Seasoning: Generously sprinkle dried thyme, black pepper, smoked paprika, and cayenne across the mixture, complementing the smoky meat with a complex spice profile.
- Liquid Infusion: Gently pour broth and water over assembled ingredients, nestling a bay leaf at the center to impart subtle herbal undertones.
- Slow Cooking: Cover crockpot and set to low temperature, allowing ingredients to simmer and meld together gradually over 7-9 hours, occasionally monitoring liquid levels and adding broth if needed.
- Finishing Touches: Thirty minutes before serving, taste and adjust seasoning with salt and optional hot sauce, then remove bay leaf and serve the tender, aromatic black-eyed peas alongside steamed rice or warm cornbread.
Notes
- Prep Peas Precisely: Carefully sort and rinse beans to remove stones, dirt, or damaged legumes, ensuring a clean and safe base for your dish.
- Layer Flavors Strategically: Dice vegetables uniformly and mince garlic finely to distribute taste evenly and create a more complex flavor profile throughout the dish.
- Manage Moisture Masterfully: Monitor liquid levels during slow cooking, adding extra broth if needed to prevent drying out and maintain perfect bean texture.
- Season Sensibly: Taste and adjust seasonings near the end of cooking, allowing flexibility to enhance salt, spice, and overall flavor just before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 10 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg