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ina garten black eyed peas

Ina Garten's Quick Black Eyed Peas (Weeknight Version)

A fast, healthy, and incredibly flavorful meal that uses pre-cooked black eyed peas to achieve a comforting, nostalgic flavor in a fraction of the time. Perfect for busy weeknights.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish, Side Dish, Stew
Cuisine: American, Comfort Food, Southern
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Base and Aromatics
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped yellow onion about 1 medium onion
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 cup chopped bell pepper any color, for sweetness and color
Peas and Liquid
  • 4 cups cooked black-eyed peas canned or freshly cooked, rinsed and drained
  • 3 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
  • 1 can diced tomatoes 14.5 ounce, undrained
Seasoning and Garnish
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley plus more for garnish
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional, for a kick
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Equipment

  • Large Pot or Dutch Oven

Method
 

  1. Sauté Aromatics: Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Sauté the chopped onion until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and chopped bell pepper to the pot, cooking for another 2-3 minutes until fragrant and slightly tender.
    1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 cup chopped yellow onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
  2. Combine Ingredients: Stir in the cooked black-eyed peas, chicken or vegetable broth, diced tomatoes (undrained), fresh parsley, dried thyme, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper (if using).
    4 cups cooked black-eyed peas, 3 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth, 1 can diced tomatoes, 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  3. Simmer: Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it cook for 15-20 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully.
  4. Season and Serve: Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve warm, garnished with extra fresh parsley if desired.
    1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Notes

Using pre-cooked (canned) black-eyed peas is the key to making this recipe fast, cutting the total cook time down to less than 30 minutes.