I buy a lot of dried beans and rice to keep in my pantry. I have been stocking – and re-stocking – my pantry for years now. Brown rice, lentils, black beans, quinoa, millet, split peas and garbanzo beans are always stocked and ready to be cooked. While I am browsing the bulk food isle I try to pick up one dry item that I have never cooked with, or at least very minimally cooked with. This week I spotted and purchased black eye peas (or black eyed beans).
I can remember my Grandma cooking these beans when I was a kid. I want to say she slow simmered them with onion, bell pepper and bacon or a ham hock. This is a traditional dish that has most people think of Southern cooking, especially when they are served with collard greens and some cornbread. Hoppin John is another traditional Southern style dish made from black eye peas, rice and pork. And from what I have been reading, black eye peas eaten on January 1st is considered to be a symbol of good luck!
There are a lot of recipes for black eye peas. Most of them contain bacon or sausage so I have been on the hunt to find clean, vegan recipes to make. Here are a few links to some that have caught my eye:
I cant wait to get cooking!
Healthy Eating!
The Clean Eating Mama 