Mema's Black Eyed Pea Dish

Dive into the comforting warmth of "Mema's Black-Eyed Pea Dish," a heartwarming Southern classic that's perfect for cozy family meals. This recipe transforms simple ingredients like black-eyed peas, smoky bacon, and aromatic spices into a savory, soulful stew. Slow-simmered in chicken broth with hints of smoked paprika, garlic, and thyme, the peas achieve a tender, flavorful perfection that pairs beautifully with fluffy rice or stands boldly on its own. Garnished with fresh green onions for a vibrant touch, this dish is a celebration of down-home cooking, ideal for New Year's luck or a satisfying dinner any time of year. Easy to prepare and packed with rustic charm, Mema’s recipe is your go-to for a crowd-pleasing, soul-soothing bowl of goodness.

Nutriscore Rating: 71/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:90 mins

Total Time:110 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 cups (dried) Black-eyed peas
• 6 slices Bacon
• 1 large (diced) Yellow onion
• 3 minced Garlic cloves
• 6 cups Chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon Smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon Dried thyme
• 2 Bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon (to taste) Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon (to taste) Black pepper
• 0.5 teaspoon (optional, to taste) Hot sauce
• 2 stalks (sliced, for garnish) Green onions
• 4 cups (optional, for serving) Cooked rice

Directions

Step 1

Rinse and sort the dried black-eyed peas to remove any debris. Soak the peas in water for at least 4 hours or overnight, then drain and set aside.

Step 2

In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove the bacon from the pot and set aside on a paper towel-lined plate. Leave about 2 tablespoons of the rendered bacon fat in the pot.

Step 3

Add the diced onion to the pot and sauté until softened and translucent, about 4-5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant.

Step 4

Pour in the chicken broth and add the soaked black-eyed peas, smoked paprika, dried thyme, bay leaves, salt, and black pepper. Stir to combine.

Step 5

Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 60-75 minutes, or until the peas are tender, stirring occasionally.

Step 6

Crumble the cooked bacon and stir it into the pot along with the optional hot sauce if desired. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

Step 7

Remove the bay leaves before serving.

Step 8

Serve the black-eyed pea dish as a hearty stew on its own, or ladle it over cooked rice for a more filling meal. Garnish with sliced green onions for a pop of freshness.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2780.8g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1809.4

Total Fat 21.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 6.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.9g
Cholesterol 47.5mg	0%
Sodium 6576.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 315.5g	0%
Dietary Fiber 29.0g	0%
Total Sugars 21.4g
Protein 85.2g	0%

Vitamin D 7.7IU	0%
Calcium 366.5mg	0%
Iron 23.7mg	0%
Potassium 3429.4mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 10.7%

Protein: 19.0%

Carbs: 70.3%