Description
Black Eyed Peas from Paula Deen bring Southern comfort to your table with a hearty, flavorful side dish. Smoky bacon, onions, and tender legumes combine for a classic recipe that warms hearts and satisfies hungry guests at any gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 slices bacon
Main Ingredients:
- 1 (454 grams/16 ounces) package washed dried black-eyed peas
- 1 medium chopped onion
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 1 (340 grams/12 ounces) can diced tomatoes and green chilies
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Render bacon in a spacious saucepan over medium heat until it reaches a crisp, golden-brown texture, approximately 5-7 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, allowing excess grease to drain, then crumble into small pieces for garnishing.
- Utilize the remaining bacon drippings to sauté finely chopped onions until they become translucent and soft, releasing their aromatic sweetness, about 3-4 minutes.
- Incorporate black-eyed peas, diced tomatoes with green chilies, kosher salt, ground chili powder, freshly ground black pepper, and water into the saucepan. Stir the ingredients thoroughly to ensure even distribution and combine flavors.
- Reduce heat to low, cover the saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, and allow the mixture to simmer gently. Cook for 45-60 minutes, stirring occasionally and monitoring liquid levels. If the mixture appears dry, add 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) of water at a time to prevent scorching and maintain desired consistency.
- Test the black-eyed peas for tenderness by gently pressing them with a fork. Once they reach a soft, creamy texture, remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with reserved crumbled bacon and serve hot as a hearty side dish or light main course.
Notes
- Kick off the cooking process by soaking dried black-eyed peas overnight, which guarantees a creamy consistency and reduces overall cooking time.
- Leverage leftover bacon drippings as a flavor-boosting secret weapon when sautéing onions, infusing the entire dish with rich, smoky undertones.
- Personalize spice levels by selecting tomatoes without green chilies for mild preferences or adding hot sauce for bolder taste profiles.
- Monitor moisture throughout cooking by checking water levels every 20 minutes, preventing dry or scorched peas and maintaining perfect texture.
- Allow the cooked black-eyed peas to rest for 10 minutes after preparation, enabling deeper flavor integration and creating a more harmonious eating experience.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 1g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 13g
- Cholesterol: 0mg