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black eyed pea stew

Black-Eyed Pea Stew

This Black-Eyed Pea Stew is a Southern classic that combines creamy, slow-simmered black-eyed peas with tender collard greens, salty diced ham, and a hint of sweet brown sugar.
4.67 from 3 votes
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Course Main Course, Side Dish, Soup
Cuisine Southern
Servings 8
Calories 220 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb dried black eye peas
  • 2 tablespoon salted butter
  • 8 oz diced ham
  • ½ yellow onion diced/about 1 cup
  • 3-4 stalks celery thinly sliced/ about 1 cup
  • 2 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning I used Slap Ya Mama
  • 10-12 cups salted chicken broth
  • 2 sprigs thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 8-10 large collard leaves de-stemmed/ about 4 cups
  • 2-3 teaspoon light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions
 

Prepare Black Eyed Peas (if using dried):

  • Place peas in a bowl, cover with water by at least 1 inch, and soak in the refrigerator 6–12 hours or overnight. Drain and rinse.

Cook Stew:

  • Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add ham, onion, and celery. Cook 4–5 minutes until lightly browned and softened.
  • Stir in garlic and Cajun seasoning. Cook 1 minute.
  • Add broth, peas, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and simmer 60 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add broth if needed.
  • Uncover, mash a few peas to thicken, then stir in collards, brown sugar, and vinegar.
  • Simmer uncovered 15–30 minutes until collards are tender and stew thickens. Remove thyme stems and bay leaf. Season to taste and serve.

Notes

  • You can use canned black eyed peas instead of dried. Drain and rinse 2 15 oz cans of black eyed peas and reduce cooking time by 15-20 minutes.
  • Pre-soak the peas if using dried. Overnight is best. This softens the peas and reduces the cooking time.
  • As peas simmer, mash a few on the side of the pot to thicken the stew.
  • Store leftover black eyed pea stew in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Pea stew may thicken as it sits in the fridge. To loosen add a splash of broth when reheating.
  • Nutrition values are an estimate only. 

Nutrition

Calories: 220kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 11gFat: 12gFiber: 8g
Keyword black eyed pea stew
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