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A close-up of a bowl of black eyed pea soup with bacon and greens, perfect for beginner soup recipes.

Easy Black-Eyed Pea Soup

This easy black-eyed pea soup is a comforting and flavorful dish perfect for beginners. It uses simple ingredients and straightforward steps to create a delicious meal.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Soaking Time 3 hours
Total Time 4 hours
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American
Calories: 345
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Soup
  • 1 pound black-eyed peas dried
  • 4-5 slices bacon thick, chopped
  • 1/2 pound ham hocks or smoked turkey
  • 1 large onion diced
  • 2 stalks celery diced
  • 1 tablespoon garlic minced
  • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme minced
  • 1-2 bay leaves
  • 6-7 cups chicken broth or water
  • 2 teaspoons Creole seasoning
  • 1.5 cup spinach fresh chopped
  • to taste salt and pepper

Equipment

  • large bowl
  • Large, heavy pot

Method
 

  1. Add the dried black-eyed peas to a large bowl and cover with cold water. Let them sit for 2-3 hours.
  2. In a large, heavy pot, sauté chopped bacon until brown and crispy, 5-6 minutes.
  3. Add the ham hocks and sauté for 5 minutes.
  4. Add the onions, celery, garlic, thyme, and bay leaf and sauté for about 3-5 minutes until the onions are wilted.
  5. Pour in the chicken broth or water.
  6. Drain the soaked beans, rinse, and place them in the pot. Season with Creole seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste. Stir and bring to a boil.
  7. Reduce heat, and simmer, covered, for about 30 minutes while stirring occasionally, or until the beans are tender and have the desired consistency.
  8. Add the fresh chopped spinach.
  9. Add more stock or water if your beans become thick and dry. The texture of the beans should be soupy.
  10. Remove the bay leaves and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve with fresh bread.

Nutrition

Calories: 345kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 10gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 273mgPotassium: 342mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 769IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 2mg

Notes

Soak the beans in cold water with three tablespoons of salt for 3-4 hours before cooking to soften the beans and add more flavor. You can skip soaking them if you’re rushed, but they’ll typically take ten more minutes to cook. Alternatively, do a quick soak: cover black-eyed peas with at least two inches of water, bring to a boil, turn off the heat, let peas rest for an hour, and start cooking. Cooking beans in the soaking water results in more flavorful beans unless you are concerned about digestive issues.

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