Recipe: Cajun Black-Eyed Peas

Kick off a fresh opportunity with these spicy, hearty black-eyed peas—they're considered a lucky Southern tradition! They're a simple, doable way to power up your plate because they're rich in protein and fiber. These seasoned beans pair perfectly with fruits, vegetables, beans, and cooked whole grains like grits, rice, and greens. Plus, they star in delicious meals across Mediterranean, African, and Indian cuisines.

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

1 teaspoon olive oil
½ small onion, diced
1 clove garlic, peeled, minced
1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
1 15-ounce can black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained (or 1 3/4 cups cooked)
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Directions

Heat the oil in a large saucepan or skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, and saute for 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until they become slightly transparent. Add the Cajun seasoning, and saute for an additional minute. Add the black-eyed peas, tomato paste, and lemon juice. Heat for 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until heated through and bubbly. Remove from heat, garnish with chopped parsley (if desired), and serve immediately.

Recipe Notes

Look for cajun (or creole) seasoning. You can also make your own by combining 1 tablespoon paprika, 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon black pepper, and 1 teaspoon dried oregano, then storing it in an airtight container.

You can make black-eyed peas from scratch by soaking 1 pound of black-eyed peas overnight, draining water, adding 9 cups of fresh water, covering, and cooking for about 1 hour over medium heat, until tender. Makes about 6 ½ cups cooked black-eyed peas. You can freeze any unused black-eyed peas.

Nutritional Information

Makes 3 servings · Serving size = 1/2 cup
140 calories · 2g fat · 200mg sodium · 23g carbohydrate · 7g fiber · 8g protein

Full Plate Meal Ideas

Did you know you can cook 1 recipe and use it in a variety of meals? Now that is meal prepping!

Here are 3 meals you can create using this stir-fry recipe.

1.  Southern Black-Eyed Peas and Greens
2.  Caribbean Black-Eyed Peas with Fish and Rice
3.  Greek Black-Eyed Peas with Cucumber Salad and Pita

Brought to you in partnership with our friends at Food + Planet.