What Are Black-eyed peas and How Can I Use Them?

Black-eyed peas rewards a little know-how: how to choose them, cook them, store them, and substitute in a pinch. Browse 80 recipes to cook with them.

What are black-eyed peas?

Black-eyed peas are small, cream-colored beans with a dark spot where they attached to the pod, the "eye" that gives them their name. Despite the name, they are not actually a pea.

Across the American South, black-eyed peas and other field beans simply get called "peas." They cook up earthy and a little starchy, holding their shape better than many beans, which is why they turn up in everything from brothy soups to cold salads.

The classic is Hopping John, the rice-and-peas dish eaten on New Year's Day for luck.

Cooking With Black-Eyed Peas

Dried black-eyed peas are forgiving. Unlike kidney or pinto beans, they cook quickly and do not strictly need an overnight soak, though a soak shortens the simmer and helps them cook evenly.

Sort out any stones or shriveled peas, then rinse. From there you can soak overnight, or use the quick method: cover with water, boil two minutes, then let stand off the heat for an hour.

Once soaked, simmer gently until tender, anywhere from 20 minutes to about an hour depending on how old the peas are. Add salt and any smoked pork toward the start; the old worry that salt toughens beans does not hold up in practice. Stir gently so they keep their shape.

Canned black-eyed peas are a genuine shortcut. Drain and rinse them, and they fold straight into a quick recipe like Quick Black Eyed Pea Soup or Southwestern Style Black Eyed Peas with no waiting.

Pairings and Common Mistakes

Black-eyed peas love smoke and pork. A ham hock or some bacon gives them backbone, as in Smoky Beef & Black Eyed Peas.

They take well to heat and acid too, which is why they carry Texas caviar, the chunky relish in Angus Tenderloin with Sauteed Mushrooms & Texas Caviar, and lighter dishes like Black Eyed Pea & Ham Salad.

They are also at home in Creole and Cajun cooking, from Black-Eyed Pea Jambalaya to Easy Lamb Creole Gumbo, and they cross continents easily into West African and Mexican dishes.

The most common mistake is a hard boil. Black-eyed peas split and turn mushy when the water rolls aggressively, so keep it at a bare simmer. The second is undercooking: a chalky center means they need more time, not more salt.

Substitutes

For soups and stews, most field beans stand in well. Pinto beans or navy beans bring a similar creamy starch, though they need a longer cook and lack the distinct earthy snap.

Pigeon peas are the closest match in flavor, and the traditional swap in Caribbean rice and peas.

For salads and quick dishes where you want a firmer bean that holds its shape, chickpeas or cannellini beans work, but expect a milder, nuttier result. In a pinch, lima beans cover the starchy, mealy texture even if the flavor leans buttery.

Buying and Storing

Dried black-eyed peas should look clean and uniform, with smooth unbroken skins. A faded, dusty bag signals old stock that will cook unevenly and take longer.

One pound of dried peas yields roughly 2⅓ cups raw and about 6 cups cooked, enough for a big pot of soup.

Store them in an airtight container in a cool, dark cupboard, where they keep about a year. They never truly spoil, but older peas cook slower and never fully soften, so buy from a shop with steady turnover.

Cooked black-eyed peas keep three to four days covered in the fridge and freeze well for up to a few months. Freeze them in their cooking liquid so they do not dry out, and they reheat straight into the next pot of soup.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find black-eyed peas: Black-eyed peas are usually found in the rice & beans section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Black-eyed peas are a member of the Vegetables and Vegetable Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

黑眼豆豆

British (UK) term

Black-eyed peas

en français

haricots à oeil noir

en español

guisantes de ojo negro

How much do black-eyed peas weigh?

Related

Vegetables and Vegetable Products

Recipes using black-eyed peas

There are 80 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Texas Caviar - Superbowl

Black beans and black-eyed peas tossed with jalapeños, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, and fresh cilantro in zesty Italian dressing. No cooking required. The ultimate game day dip for a crowd.

Spicy Bean & Corn Salsa - Superbowl

Super quick and easy to make, instead of canned tomatoes, I used cherry tomatoes and made our own dressing and kept in the refrigerator for about 2 hours to let marinate; the flavor came out delicious, because of cherry tomatoes, it was more like a salad, definitely is a keeper.

Southern Living Braised Collards with Bacon & Black-Eyed Peas

Winter greens can be bitter but not when cooked this way. Perfectly complimentary flavors and belly filling warmness. If you've never tried collard greens before this recipe is more than worth the effort.

5 Bean Soup

5 bean soup simmers pinto, navy, red, great northern, and black-eyed peas with a smoky ham bone, tomatoes, and chili powder. Hearty, high-fiber, freezer-friendly bowl.

Traditional Hopping John

Along the coast of the Southern US eating Hoppin' John on New Year's Day is thought to bring a year filled with luck and prosperity. The beans symbolize coins or pennies. Sometimes a penny is added to the pot or can be left under the bowls of Hoppin' John. Greens such as Collards, chard or kale can be added and symbolize the color of money and are said to add to ones wealth in the new year. The day after New Year's Day the leftovers are called "Skippin' Jenny," and further demonstrates one's frugality. A common tradition in the south US is each person at the meal should leave three peas on their plate to ensure the New Year will be filled with Luck, Fortune and Romance. Another tradition holds that counting the number of peas in a serving predicts the amount of luck (or wealth) that will be collected over the next year.

New Year's Day Chowder

New Year is coming, this moment is always excited, it means a lot. But we always need some good recipes to celebrate it, this chowder is a great one to keep!

Smoky Beef & Black Eyed Peas

Slow cooker beef chuck roast simmered all day with black-eyed peas, carrots and green chiles, finished with a hit of hickory liquid smoke. Set it and forget it for 9 to 10 hours.

Easy Vegetable Gumbo

Rich vegetable gumbo built on a dark roux, loaded with bell peppers, onions, celery, carrots, kale, and black-eyed peas. A hearty plant-based take on Louisiana's signature stew.

Rice & Peas with Tempeh

Caribbean-style rice and peas gets a vegan upgrade with cubed tempeh, coconut-toasted brown rice, black-eyed peas, and cinnamon. A hearty plant-based main with island flavor.

Quick Black Eyed Pea Soup

A quick rendition of a tasty black-eyed pea soup that tastes amazing with a crusty bread.

Southwestern Style Black Eyed Peas

Southwestern black-eyed peas simmered with diced carrots, onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic, and hot sauce. A simple, flavorful side dish ready in 30 minutes.

Good Luck New Year's Soup

Good luck New Year's soup: a hearty mix of black-eyed peas, lentils, and beans simmered low with smoky ham, tomato, and garlic until thick. The legume-packed pot that's said to bring prosperity in the new year.

Jolof Rice

Jolof rice with black-eyed peas, eggplant, tomatoes, and brown rice cooked in a spicy tomato-ginger sauce with curry and cayenne. A hearty West African one-pot vegetarian meal.

Grilled Tenderloins

Jerk-rubbed grilled pork tenderloin served with dirty rice, black-eyed peas, chicken livers, and crumbled goat cheese. A bold Southern-meets-Caribbean main dish with serious depth of flavor.

Blackeyed Pea Crabmeat Gorditas with Vinaigrette(Pyles)*

Black-eyed pea and crab salad with bacon, roasted peppers, and fresh herbs in a bright vinaigrette. A Stephan Pyles-style Southwestern recipe served on gorditas or crisp tortillas.

Beef & Bacon Over Pasta (Fgkg27A)

A warm beef and bacon stew is served over pasta. It's delicious and fills you up. A great fall or winter dish.

Grilled Chicken Breast & Bean Salad

Grilled mustard-coated chicken breast sliced over a mixed bean salad with black-eyed peas, fresh tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, and herbs in a balsamic vinaigrette. Served at room temperature.

Easy Lamb Creole Gumbo From Tony Burke

Lamb Creole gumbo with browned riblets, stewed tomatoes, okra, black-eyed peas, white wine, and lemon. A Cajun-Louisiana stew with a lamb twist that freezes well.

Pickled Blackeyed Peas

Pickled black-eyed peas marinated in a garlic-infused oil and red wine vinegar dressing with red onion and cayenne. A Southern make-ahead appetizer that improves over several days.

Spicy Black Eyed Pea Soup

Spicy black-eyed pea soup with bacon, jalapenos, tomatoes, and melted Swiss cheese in a beef bouillon broth. A smoky, cheesy, and spicy Southern-inspired bowl.

Not Danny Glover's Gumbo

Vegetarian gumbo with black-eyed peas, okra, corn, tomatoes, and the holy trinity in a homemade vegetable stock. A plant-based bayou bowl ready to ladle over cornbread.

Tenderloin with Sauteed Mushrooms & Texas Caviar

Slow-roasted beef tenderloin paired with wine-simmered mushrooms and zesty Texas Caviar made with black-eyed peas, cilantro and picante sauce. A Lone Star showstopper that feeds a crowd.

Chicken with Blackeye Peas

Tender chicken breast pieces cook in one skillet with rice, black-eyed peas, and sweet corn, creating a complete Southern-inspired meal that's hearty, protein-packed, and ready in 40 minutes flat.

Stack-In-A-Pot Stew

Stack-in-a-pot stew layers browned ground beef, garlic, chopped onion, cherry tomatoes, and black-eyed peas in one pot. No stirring needed. Just simmer for 30 minutes and serve.

Quick & Hearty Veggie Soup

In a hurry? Try this quick and tasty vegetable soup that will satisfy your hunger!

Vegan Eggplant Parm Stew

This would probably be really good with cauliflower or zucchini instead of eggplant.

Black-Eyed Peas & Rice Salad

Black-eyed pea and rice salad with a Dijon red wine vinaigrette, grated carrot, and fresh herbs. A make-ahead vegetarian salad served at room temperature.

Hoppin John Soup

Southern Hoppin' John soup with black-eyed peas, ham, rice, collard greens, and a kick of crushed red pepper. A hearty, soul food classic simmered low and slow for deep, smoky flavor.

Cajun Skillet Beans

Cajun skillet beans with black-eyed peas, the holy trinity of onion, celery, and bell pepper, plus tomatoes, thyme, and a pinch of cayenne. A quick, hearty vegetarian Cajun side.

Wild Rice, Yellow Pepper, & Black-Eyed Pea Salad

Wild rice and black-eyed pea salad with yellow bell pepper, jicama, zucchini, and cherry tomatoes in a lemon-Dijon vinaigrette with rosemary. No oil, no cooking required.

Garlicky Black Pepper Shrimp & Black Eyed Peas

Garlicky black pepper shrimp and black-eyed peas is Low Country Southern cooking in one skillet: bacon, holy trinity, bay-scented peas, and wine-splashed shrimp finished with cracked pepper.

New Year's Day Black-Eyed Pea Soup

Black-eyed pea soup slow-simmered with a ham bone for New Year's Day good luck. Creamy, smoky, and served over white rice in the Southern tradition.

Hoppin' John

Traditional Southern Hoppin' John with dried black-eyed peas, rice, ham, and cayenne. A one-pot New Year's Day staple believed to bring good luck.

Vegetarian Jambalaya

Vegetarian jambalaya with black-eyed peas, canned plum tomatoes, minute rice, and hot pepper sauce. A Louisiana-inspired one-pot stew ready in 30 minutes.

Spicy Blackeyed Peas

Spicy black-eyed peas simmered with cumin, chili powder, dry mustard, canned tomatoes, and Tabasco. A quick Southern side dish served over rice or with grits.

Angus Tenderloin with Sauteed Mushrooms & Texas Caviar

Slow-roasted beef tenderloin sliced thin, served with buttery wine-simmered mushrooms and chilled black-eyed pea salsa for an elegant Texas feast.

Black-Eyed Pea Crab Salad with Ruby Grapefruit

Black-eyed peas simmered in ham hock broth, tossed with sweet crabmeat, crispy bacon, tri-color bell peppers, and fresh herbs, then ringed with juicy ruby grapefruit sections. Southern elegance on a platter.

Easy Lamb Creole Gumbo

Lamb Creole gumbo with browned lamb riblets, okra, black-eyed peas, stewed tomatoes, and white wine simmered low and slow. A hearty Louisiana-style pot that serves eight and freezes well.

Corn 'N Peas Pasta Salad

Colorful rotini tossed with black-eyed peas, sweet corn, crisp bell peppers, and zesty salsa-lime vinaigrette. Perfect make-ahead potluck side.

Wake-Ewa (Black Eyed Beans with Sauce)

Wake-Ewa is a hearty Nigerian black-eyed pea stew simmered in a spiced tomato and onion sauce with chili, coriander, and thyme. Serve over rice or with fufu for a filling plant-based meal.

Two-Bean Corn Chili

Slow-cooker two-bean corn chili with black-eyed peas, navy beans, sweet corn, and jalapenos. Vegan, dump-and-go, ready when you walk in the door.

Tex-Mex Caviar

Texas caviar made with black-eyed peas, colorful bell peppers, jalapeño, and red onion. A quick, crowd-pleasing Southern dip or side dish ready in 30 minutes.

Chilean Black-Eyed Peas & Winter Squash

If you're not in the mood for meat, try this scrumptious dish made with black eyed peas, squash, chili peppers and corn.

Onion Caviar

Onion caviar with black-eyed peas, sweet Vidalia onions, green bell pepper, pimentos, and garlic in Italian dressing. A Southern marinated appetizer or side dish, best made overnight.

Roasted Vegetable Soup with Beans

Hearty roasted vegetable soup with eggplant, zucchini, sweet potatoes, peppers, leeks, and three kinds of beans in herb-infused vegetable broth. A vegan, high-fiber dinner soup.

Spaghetti, Black Eye Peas, & Artichoke Hearts

Spaghetti tossed with black-eyed peas, artichoke hearts, black olives, and Parmesan in a garlicky bean broth. A hearty, protein-packed meatless pasta dinner in 30 minutes.

Black-Eyed Peas & Barley Pilaf

One-pot black-eyed peas and barley pilaf simmered in vegetable stock with thyme and parsley. A hearty vegetarian main dish loaded with fiber and ready in 30 minutes.

Black-Eyed Peas with Spinach

Black-eyed peas with fresh spinach sauteed in vegetable broth with a pinch of cayenne. A low-fat vegetarian side dish ready in 20 minutes flat.

Vegetable Jambalaya

Meatless Cajun jambalaya with black-eyed peas, bell peppers, zucchini, and rice simmered in a smoky paprika-thyme tomato broth. One pot, big Louisiana flavor, no meat required.

Black Eyed Pea & Ham Salad

A no-cook Southern-style salad with black-eyed peas, chopped ham, celery, red onion, and fresh jalapeño in a tangy red wine vinegar dressing. Ready in minutes, feeds a crowd, and gets better as it sits.

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