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Authentic Creamy Southern Black-Eyed Peas with Ham Hock

A bowl of creamy black eyed peas topped with shredded ham and chopped green celery.
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Make traditional, deeply flavorful Southern Black-Eyed Peas. This recipe focuses on achieving a creamy texture and rich, smoky taste, perfect for a New Year’s Day tradition or a hearty comfort food side dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound dried black-eyed peas, rinsed and picked over
  • 6 cups water or low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 smoked ham hock (or 4 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped)
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Instructions

  1. Place the rinsed black-eyed peas, water or broth, ham hock (or bacon), onion, celery, garlic, smoked paprika, thyme, and bay leaf into a large pot or Dutch oven.
  2. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.
  3. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the peas are tender and creamy. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
  4. If using bacon, remove the ham hock or bacon pieces once the peas are cooked. Shred any meat from the ham hock and return the shredded meat to the pot. Discard the bone and bay leaf.
  5. Stir in the salt, pepper, and apple cider vinegar during the last 15 minutes of cooking. The vinegar brightens the flavor.
  6. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed before serving hot.

Notes

  • For a quicker method, use a slow cooker. Combine all ingredients except salt, pepper, and vinegar in the slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Add seasonings during the last hour.
  • If you prefer a thicker consistency, remove about 1 cup of the cooked peas and mash them, then stir the mash back into the pot.
  • Serve these flavorful black-eyed peas alongside collard greens and cornbread for a complete Southern meal.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://pureplatepath.com/creamy-southern-black-eyed-peas-recipe/