Spicy Black-eyed Peas
A staple in the Southern diet for over 300 years, black-eyed peas have long been associated with good luck. A serving of black-eyed peas is a New Year’s tradition thought to bring luck and prosperity for the new year. Actually, we love any dried bean dishes year-round because of their versatility and great nutritional value. Economical beans are packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and are a good protein alternative for meat. Make beans one of your “go to” healthy foods this year! Here’s a black-eyed peas recipe we’ve adapted from Paula Deen:
Spicy Black-Eyed Peas – Serves 6 Cooking Time: 1 hour
2 tsp. olive oil
4 slices turkey bacon or 2oz. lean ham
1 small onion chopped
1/2 package (8 oz) dried black-eyed peas, washed
1 10 oz. can diced tomatoes with green chilis
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
1 1/2 – 2 cups water
Directions:
In a medium saucepan heat olive oil and brown the bacon or ham until crispy. Stir in the onions and cook for about 3 minutes until tender. Add black-eyed peas, canned tomatoes with chilis, chili powder, cumin and water. Cook over medium heat for approximately 1 hour or until peas are tender. Add more water during the cooking process if needed. **If you prefer less spicy beans, substitute plain diced canned tomatoes instead of canned tomatoes with chilies.
