I grew up eating black eyed peas on New Years Day for good luck. I never really liked them but I ate at least a spoon full to take part in the family tradition. My family prepared them the local way: canned black eyed peas simmered with a piece of fat meat, onions, salt and pepper. We always ate them with a swirl of yellow mustard on top. They were always mushy and just YUK.
This year I decided to do things differently. To start with I used dried black eyed peas instead of canned. This changed everything. I didn't want them to be mushy so I decided to roast them. I also wanted more flavor. I mixed sweet, salty, and spicy to go with the savoriness of the beans. This recipe turned out to be so delicious that I will make it anytime not just on New Years.
Ingredients:
2 bags of dry black eyed peas
5 scallions sliced
1 large orange pepper diced
1 large banana pepper diced
1/2 cup crushed sugar coated almonds
1/2 cup diced dried Asian pears (you can use dried apricots or apples if you can't find the pears)
1 1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup yellow mustard
2 tablespoons cumin
2 tablespoons curry powder
1 tablespoon cardamom
1 tablespoon brown sugar
cayenne pepper to taste
crushed red chili pepper flakes to taste
sea salt to taste
First soak two bags of dried black eyed peas overnight
Drain them and rinse them well
Put them back in a large pot and boil them for about 20 to 30 minutes or until tender... NOT MUSHY... be very careful not to over boil them. Keep testing them while they are boiling. Remember they are going to be roasted too.
Meanwhile slice scallions into thin rounds and dice your peppers
Put scallions and peppers in a large bowl
Mix in all other ingredients (except for your beans) and stir
When your beans are done strain and rinse them. Rinse out the pot you boiled them in and put the beans back in it
Pour your pepper and scallion marinade over the beans.
Stir until completely mixed
Pour into two 9 x 13 glass baking dishes
Place in oven on 350 for half an hour
Serve with a dollop of sour cream and some chips or however you want.
Good and good for you.
