Black Eyed Pea Soup

This down-home Black Eyed Pea Soup is filled with fresh vegetables and ham all cooked in a flavorful seasoned broth. Serve a big bowl with a side of cornbread any day of the year and you can eat like a king on a budget.

Easy Black Eyed Pea Soup Recipe

It’s traditional in the South to eat black eyed peas and greens on New Years Day for good luck. Some say it’s a symbol of health, wealth and prosperity for the coming year. Others say, it’s a budget friendly meal after the indulgences of the holiday season. Either way, it works for me. Whether your pleasure is hoppin’ john cooked in a slow cooker, or topped with a cornbread crust and baked as a casserole, black eyed peas are a Southern favorite that are here to stay. How to make homemade Black-Eyed Peas Soup Recipe from scratch: (Scroll down for full printable recipe.)

• Soak – Rinse and pick over peas then place them into a large bowl or pot. Cover black eyed peas with water with at least an inch on top. Allow to sit on counter for 8 hours or overnight then drain.
• Bacon – Cook bacon until crisp. Remove to paper towels, reserve drippings in pot.
• Vegetables – To the drippings add onion, celery and carrots. Sauté for 5 minutes or until tender and beginning to brown. Add garlic, cook 1 minute longer.
• Black Eyed Peas – Add black eyed peas, ham, tomatoes, collards, Cajun seasoning, salt, cumin and lemon pepper. Add 6 cups chicken broth. Stir to combine.
• Cook – Bring to a boil then lower heat to medium and simmer with the lid offset. Cook for 30 minutes per the recipe until tender.
• Garnish – Mix bacon back into the soup or sprinkle on top. Serve garnished with green onions or parsley.

How to Make the Best Black Eyed Pea Soup Recipe

• Ingredients you’ll need to make homemade Black Eyed Pea Soup: One pound dry black eyed peas rinsed and picked over, bacon, onion, celery, carrots, garlic, canned diced tomatoes i.e. Rotel tomatoes, cubed ham, frozen collards, Cajun or Creole seasoning, salt, black pepper, cumin, lemon pepper, green onions and chicken stock or broth. You could also add cayenne pepper for heat.
• Kitchen tools you’ll need: A large heavy bottomed pot or Dutch oven, sharp knife and cutting board, a large bowl, vegetable peeler, large spoon or stirring, measuring cups and spoons.
• If you forget to soak the peas overnight, you can use a quick soak method. How do you quick soak black eyed peas? It’s super simple, place black eyed peas into a deep pot and cover with water. Place onto the stovetop and bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes, then remove from the heat and cover. Let stand for one hour then drain and proceed with the recipe.
• When time is a factor this shortcut may come in handy to make preparation go smoothly. You can use three or four 15 ounce cans of quality cooked black eyed peas in place of dry, if desired. If they’re seasoned, you may need to adjust the amount of seasonings in the recipe. And of course, it won’t take as long to cook.
• If you prefer leaving out the bacon you can use olive oil to saute the vegetables.
• You can omit the collard greens with no other adjustments needed.
• You could add diced green, red or yellow bell peppers to the onion and carrots. You could also add a diced jalapeno for spice.
• This soup is a delicious way to use leftover holiday ham. You could also swap out the ham for smoked turkey, cubed smoked sausage or cooked ham hock.
• Store cooked Black Eyed Pea Soup for up to 5 days chilled in the refrigerator.
• Reheat leftovers in single servings in the microwave or in a saucepan on the stovetop over medium heat.
• Store Black Eyed Pea Soup in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Southern Side Dishes to Serve with Black Eyed Pea Soup

• A side of fresh from the oven Skillet Honey Cornbread.
• This Grits and Greens Casserole can be enjoyed at any meal.
• Add a little kick to your sides with this Green Chile Cheddar Cornbread.
• My recipe for Southern style Chow Chow is the perfect ide dish for a pot of soup of beans.
• Cornbread Muffins made in a cupcake pan are terrific for individual servings.
• This Hillbilly Cole Slaw features a vinegar based dressing. It gets better and better the longer it sits.

More Easy Soup Recipes to Make

Regardless of how you enjoy black eyed peas, they make a tasty, budget friendly meal all year long.

• Taco Soup is ideal for casual meals and game day snacking.
• Fully Loaded Smashed Potato Soup is rich and decadent.
• This Lentil Soup recipe is full flavored.
• Instant Pot Vegetable Beef Soup comes together in no time using your Instant Pot.
• One Pot Chicken Noodle Soup will cure what ails ya!
• Butternut Squash Soup is better than any you’ll pay top dollar or at a restaurant.
• You may also like to try this delicious recipe for Beef and Black Eyed Pea Chili from My Recipes.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Dutch Oven
• Kitchen Utensils
• Knives and Chopping Board
• Soup Bowls