Black-Eyed Peas With Pork

Black-Eyed Peas with Pork
Photo: Diana Rattray
Prep: 25 mins
Cook: 2 hrs 20 mins
Total: 2 hrs 45 mins
Servings: 8 servings

Enjoy these flavorful, meaty black-eyed peas as part of your lucky New Year's Day dinner or make them for an everyday meal. Be sure to add a pan or skillet of freshly baked cornbread or cornbread muffins and a side of sautéed greens to your menu.

Buy a boneless pork shoulder and cut off about 8 to 10 ounces of meat. Freeze the rest of the pork shoulder or put it in the slow cooker for pulled pork sandwiches the next day. You could even use leftover shredded pork shoulder in the dish.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound dried black-eyed peas

  • 8 to 12 ounces boneless pork shoulder, or pork butt, cut into small pieces

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

  • 4 strips bacon, diced

  • 1 cup chopped onion

  • 1/2 cup chopped celery

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • 3 to 4 cups chicken broth, unsalted or low-sodium

  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 1 to 1 1/2 cups water, or to cover

  • 1/2 teaspoon Cajun or Creole seasoning

Steps to Make It

  1. Put the black-eyed peas in a large bowl or pot and cover them completely with cool water. Soak the black-eyed peas for 6 hours or overnight.

  2. Rinse and drain the black-eyed peas several times. Set them aside. 

  3. In a large Dutch oven or stockpot over medium-high heat, sear the pork pieces in the vegetable oil until browned. 

  4. Add the bacon to the pot and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.

  5. Add the onion and celery and continue cooking, stirring, for 5 to 7 minutes, or until the bacon is cooked and the onion is lightly browned.

  6. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. 

  7. Add 3 cups of the chicken broth and the garlic powder, black pepper, and cayenne. Bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 45 minutes or until the pork pieces feel fork tender. 

  8. Add the drained black-eyed peas to the pot along with 1 to 1 1/2 cups of water to cover. Put the lid on the pot and simmer for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until the peas turn tender but retain their shape. Add more chicken broth as necessary to keep the peas covered while they cook.

  9. Taste and add the Cajun or Creole seasoning and salt, as needed. 

Expert Tip

Use the quick-soak method to cut the preparation time. Put the black-eyed peas in a large pot and cover them with water (about 6 cups for 1 pound). Bring the pot to a boil over high heat, then move it off the burner, cover it, and let the peas stand in the water for an hour or two before you drain them and continue with the recipe.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
382 Calories
14g Fat
39g Carbs
27g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 382
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 14g 18%
Saturated Fat 4g 22%
Cholesterol 47mg 16%
Sodium 240mg 10%
Total Carbohydrate 39g 14%
Dietary Fiber 7g 24%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 27g
Vitamin C 4mg 20%
Calcium 90mg 7%
Iron 6mg 31%
Potassium 911mg 19%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)