Description
Hearty black-eyed pea soup brings Southern comfort to your table with rich, smoky flavors and creamy texture. Nourishing ingredients and simple preparation make this classic dish a soul-warming meal you’ll want to savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cans (15 oz / 425 g) black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup smoked sausage, cooked and sliced (optional)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1 can (14.5 oz / 411 g) diced tomatoes, with juice
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cups fresh spinach or kale (optional)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Sauté Foundation: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium flame, combining onion, garlic, carrots, celery, and bell pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes until vegetables soften and release their aromatic essence.
- Spice Awakening: Introduce smoked paprika, thyme, and cayenne pepper, stirring to activate their robust flavors for approximately 1 minute.
- Liquid Integration: Pour broth, diced tomatoes, and black-eyed peas into the pot, ensuring all ingredients are thoroughly blended.
- Simmering Harmony: Bring the mixture to a vigorous boil, then reduce heat and cover. Allow the soup to simmer gently for 20-25 minutes, melding flavors and tenderizing ingredients.
- Protein and Greens Enhancement: Add smoked sausage during the final 10 minutes of cooking, then fold in spinach or kale, letting the greens delicately wilt for 2-3 minutes.
- Final Refinement: Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, tasting and adjusting to perfect the flavor profile.
- Presentation: Ladle the aromatic soup into serving vessels, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve alongside crusty bread or traditional cornbread.
Notes
- Choose Fresh Ingredients: Select vibrant, firm vegetables and high-quality black-eyed peas to enhance the soup’s overall flavor profile and nutritional value.
- Spice Bloom Technique: Allow spices to toast briefly in the pot before adding liquids, releasing deeper, more complex flavor notes and maximizing aromatic potential.
- Simmer Strategically: Maintain a gentle, low heat during cooking to prevent overcooking vegetables and preserve their texture and nutritional integrity.
- Customize for Dietary Needs: Easily adapt the recipe by substituting chicken broth with vegetable broth for vegetarian version, or using plant-based sausage for a meat-free alternative.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg