In the South, eating Black Eyed Peas on New Years Day is thought to bring prosperity. Call me superstitious, but I grew up on this tradition and my Mom never missed serving up black-eyed peas on New Years Day. So, here I am. 30 years old and I always eat my black-eyed peas (and cabbage) to ring in the New Year. This year, I am enjoying them in this Black-Eyed Pea Soup
Some of you say YUCK, I hate black-eyed peas. I think you’re crazy or you’ve only had ones not prepared well because I freaking love me some black-eyed peas. I think this recipe is absolutely delicious and I look forward to serving it up every year! This recipe makes a lot. I always make a ton so that I can spread the love and prosperity to my closest friends by dropping them off a mason jar of this soup. They love it!
So for all of you crazy, superstitious southerners like myself that do this tradition, try my Black-Eyed Pea Soup recipe this year. It’s a very delicious and healthy soup to make, and I hope you will enjoy it. Wishing you all the prosperity in the New Year!
If you like this soup and are looking for others, try these similar recipes:
Hoppin’ Johns (Southern-Style Blacked Eyed Peas)
Easy Chickpea and Kale Tuscan Style Soup
Black-Eyed Pea Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 cup diced-small red bell pepper (or 1 medium red bell pepper)
- 1 cup diced small carrot (or 1 large carrot)
- 1 1/2 cups small diced yellow onion (or 1 small onion)
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup seeded and finely diced jalapeno (or 1 large jalapeno)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper plus more to taste
- 2 cups diced, cooked ham
- 24 oz pre-soaked black-eyed peas *see note
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 bay leaf
- 4 cups kale removed from stem and loosely chopped
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a soup pot or dutch oven over medium-high heat.
- Add the onion, bell pepper, carrot, garlic, jalapeno and a pinch of salt and pepper. Saute until tender, 5-7 minutes.
- Add in the diced ham and saute 2 more minutes.
- Add the black-eyed peas, the broth, chili powder, cumin and the bay leaf. Stor to combine then bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low (or a light simmer) and let simmer, covered, until the peas are very tender, about 1 1/2 hours.
- When the peas are tender, add in the kale and stir in until wilted down into the soup. Taste the soup and add salt and pepper, if desired (this will depend on how salty your ham is).
- Remove the bay leaf. Serve and enjoy!
44 Comments
Amanda
January 1, 2023 at 9:34 pmMy mom required we have a bite of black eyed peas every year on New Year’s Day. I’ve been making this recipe since you put it out on 2017 and I look forward to it every year!
Lana Riding
January 1, 2023 at 8:00 pmWow! This was delicious🙂. Perfect New Year’s Day lunch. I couldn’t find dried peas so I used 2 cans of black eyed peas that were seasoned with bacon. I subbed smoked sausage for the ham, and threw in a can of Rotel and a small can of diced green chilies. After I sautéed the onions, celery, etc, I added everything to my crockpot and let it cook on low while we were at church. The house smelled wonderful and the soup was a big hit!! Next time I think I’ll add a third can of black eyed peas.
Shannon
January 1, 2023 at 3:40 pmIf making with canned black eyed peas, I saw to adjust cooking time but should I adjust the amount of broth used? Thank you!! We love this recipe!!
Daniela
January 7, 2022 at 4:47 pmHello! If I want to make this recipe for 2-4 people, can I simply reduce the amount of broth and black eyed peas? Or should I cut the recipe in half?
Alex
January 10, 2022 at 1:16 amI would cut the recipe in half (and if you look at serving size on my blog posts, you can change the serving sizes and it will recalculate the recipe for you!)
Casey
December 31, 2022 at 6:51 pmHey Alex,
Can I used frozen black eyed peas??
Alex
January 1, 2023 at 11:10 pmYes you can!! Just keep in mind they cook quickly, so you’ll likely only need it to cook for half the time, to prevent them from getting too softened/mushy.
Dee Sparks
July 11, 2021 at 2:48 pmCan I use canned collard greens?
Alex
July 12, 2021 at 12:06 pmI’ve never tried canned collard greens to be honest– but I would think it’d work great in a recipe like this soup!
francine in dc
March 18, 2021 at 10:07 pmthis soup is incredible – my entire family loves it. My eight-year-old had two bowls at dinner tonight, and even willingly slurped up the kale! i like using lacinato (dinosaur) kale, and i pureed a can of diced tomatoes and used in place of two cups of the broth (mostly because i ran out of broth and I love adding extra veggies whenever I can). such a delicious, nutritious soup!
Marguerite
January 2, 2021 at 8:43 pmHi! How much bacon should I use if I don’t have ham? Thank you!
Alex
January 3, 2021 at 2:22 pmI’d use 6-8 slices and brown it first to get it slightly crisp before adding the Blackeyed peas.
Meghan
January 1, 2021 at 10:29 pmThis was excellent! I’ve avoided trying a black-eyed pea recipe for fear of it either tasting too bland, or too ham flavored. But I gave this a try, and it had fantastic, robust flavor. It will now be my go-to black-eyed pea recipe. The whole family, including my kids and my parents who were with us, devoured it. Thank you!
Alex
January 2, 2021 at 2:29 pmSo happy you enjyed it!! Happy New year!
Shannon
January 1, 2021 at 9:03 pmHi!! Excited to make today but could only find canned peas – suggestions on how to adjust cooking time?
Alex
January 2, 2021 at 2:30 pmIt will only take 20-30 mins with canned!
Tamara
January 16, 2023 at 3:26 pmI’m out of smoked paprika, what can I use?
. Vegetarian so leaving out ham of course. Need flavor.
Totally lost lol
December 31, 2020 at 8:55 pmHi! When using dried black eyed peas, pre soaked means?
Alex
January 1, 2021 at 5:53 pmSoaked in water to soften before cooking! If you cannot find pre-soaked black-eyed peas in the fridge section at your local grocery store you can use dried black-eyed peas but you must pre-soak them first by pouring them in a bowl and filling the bowl with water until covered by 2 inches. Let soak for at least 6 hours, or overnight.
Evie
January 2, 2023 at 9:39 pmThis soup is our new lucky New Year’s Day soup. I love all the vegetables and it’s a great way to use some left over Christmas ham.
Alex
January 3, 2023 at 1:36 pmThank you, Evie! happy New year!
Jennifer Fowler
December 31, 2020 at 5:04 pmCan you substitute cabbage instead of Kale?
Alex
January 2, 2021 at 2:33 pmyes! that’d still be good here!
Jenna Tucker
December 31, 2020 at 9:14 amWould it be okay to leave out the jalapeño?!8’ a super spicy wimp and can’t handle any kick at all 🙁
Alex
January 1, 2021 at 4:53 pmOf course! Enjoy!
Hunter
December 30, 2020 at 4:47 pmIs there still a lot of flavor without the ham? I’m a vegetarian but love the idea of making my black eyed peas and greens In a soup
Alex
December 30, 2020 at 8:59 pmit should still be good w/o the ham! try adding a little touch of smoked paprika for some smokiness and a little extra salt to help flavor it a bit more w/o the ham
Janellen
December 27, 2020 at 6:50 pmHave not tried the yet , I plan to use a smoked ham hock and maybe fresh Kale ?? What do you think 🤔
Alex
December 28, 2020 at 12:55 amwill be fab!!!!
Stephanie L Stever
November 15, 2020 at 1:55 pmI was thinking of adding a ham hock in here for flavor but I’ve never done this. Can anybody tell me how to add this or do you have another alternative to ham, hubbies wont eat ham but likes the flavor..
CH
January 4, 2018 at 6:35 pmHi! Love your recipes! Was wondering your thoughts on adapting this to a slow cooker recipe. Would I need to sauté foods before dumping them in my crock pot?
Thanks!
Alex
January 5, 2018 at 12:25 pmYou don’t have to, but I prefer sauteing the veggies first, then throwing it all in and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
Jaime
January 1, 2023 at 9:10 pmI used frozen black eyed peas. Will that be okay? Or adjust cool time?
Alex
January 1, 2023 at 11:07 pmyes you can use frozne, but they cook much more quickly (like canned beans) so just keep that in mind so they don’t get mushy.
CH
January 4, 2018 at 6:33 pmLove your recipes! Was wondering what you would suggest if I wanted to do this in a crock pot. Would I need to sauté the onion, carrot, and bell pepper before I dump it in my slow cooker?
Thanks!
sarah h
January 3, 2018 at 2:29 amso tasty! target sells precubed ham in their deli section – made it extra easy!
Karen
January 2, 2018 at 1:50 amReally good! I cut the recipe in half, cuz we aren’t going to be home…going on the road! I follow you on Instagram. Always good recipes!
Alex
January 2, 2018 at 4:28 pmThank you!!! I am glad you enjoyed them!
Sierra
January 2, 2018 at 1:00 amThis soup was amazing! Love anything that has cumin in it. I pressure cooked it in the Instant Pot for 10 minuets and natural pressure released for about 20-25 mins. Added a side of corn bread. Girl it was so good!! Thanks for this one! ~Sierra R.
Alex
January 2, 2018 at 1:11 amoh yummmmmmm love the cornbread with it!!! and so glad it worked in the pressure cooker! Thanks for sharing that for others!! 🙂 I know they’ll appreciate it.
The Best Oversized Coat | BEING // BRIDGET
December 31, 2017 at 11:45 pm[…] snowy holiday and today was the perfect day. I stayed inside with my husband and the pups, made The Defined Dish’s black eye peas New Years recipe and had wine with my lunch next to a roaring fire. The most ideal day! Tonight we’re dressing […]
Michelle Smith
December 31, 2017 at 1:23 amMade it with beef broth and no ham. Delish!
Love you,
Aunt Michelle
Alex
December 31, 2017 at 12:46 pmyay!! glad you liked it Michelle 🙂 Love you!
Carey
January 4, 2023 at 9:27 pmThis recipe is one of our favorites!
We doubled it last New Years and froze half of it. It was just as good when we enjoyed it a month later. Thank you!