Black Eyed Peas (Stovetop) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

FAQs

What does baking soda do to black-eyed peas? ›

Bottom Line. If beans make you uncomfortably gassy, sprinkle a little baking soda into their soaking water. It will reduce the volume of gas produced by the legumes, plus, they will cook quicker. If you're even shorter on time, you may want to try some of our favorite recipes to make with a can of black beans.

Soaked black eyed peas take about 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours to cook, depending on the age of the beans, how long they were soaked for and how soft you prefer them. If you're starting with frozen black eyed peas, microwave until thawed before adding them to your dish.

— Let your black-eyed peas soak. Place your beans in a large bowl and add enough water to cover by at least 4". Let them soak overnight. While not entirely necessary, soaking your beans will cut down on cooking time, making the whole process quicker and easier.

Premium Blackeye Peas, from Hanover Foods, are a good source of protein and fiber. They are precooked and frozen, offering you the convenience of not having to soak them.

To degas with baking soda, add a teaspoon of baking soda to 4 quarts of water. Stir in the dried beans and bring to a boil. Then turn off the heat and let the beans soak at least four hours (I usually do this the night before I want to use them; the longer soak won't hurt them). Drain, rinse and rinse again.

Baking soda and baking powder are not the same. Sodium bicarbonate and bicarbonate of soda are other names for baking soda. Baking powder is made of baking soda plus cream of tartar and cornstarch. Baking powder can be substituted for baking soda by tripling the amount of baking powder.

Drain them the next day and bring them to a boil in cold water, then reduce the heat so the water barely simmers: dried black-eyed peas can overcook, and a rolling boil could cause them to break apart. Taste the peas often to check their doneness: They should be creamy but retain their shape.

A properly cooked black-eyed pea should be tender but still have a bite, not mushy. Canned black-eyed peas are best in recipes that don't require slow cooking or a long cook time, which can make them mushy.

Black-eyed peas are highly nutritious and associated with many impressive health benefits. In particular, they may help support weight loss, improve heart health, and promote digestive health. They're also versatile, delicious, and easy to incorporate into a number of recipes as part of a healthy diet.

Don't worry about soaking lentils, split peas, or black-eyed peas (or cowpeas). Lentils and peas are softer than dried beans. They'll cook within 5 to 20 minutes without any soaking time.

What happens if you forget to soak black-eyed peas? ›

When cooking black-eyed peas without soaking, rinse them thoroughly under cold water to remove any impurities. Then, place them in a pot with enough water or broth to cover them by about 2 inches. Bring the pot to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until they reach the desired tenderness.

Black-eyed peas are often packaged in 1- or 2-pound bags. One pound of dry peas is about 2 cups. One cup of dry black-eyed peas makes 3 cups of cooked peas (6 servings).

When sealed properly dried black-eyed peas can last for up to 1 year. Canned black-eyed peas will stay safe up to 3 years. Black-eyed peas that are already cooked should be allowed to cool then stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 5 days.

When dry beans boil, a foam forms on the top of the cooking liquid. This foam is water-soluble protein released from the beans and it will be absorbed back into the bean cooking liquid. It is not necessary to remove the foam.

A teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda can be added to the peas whilst soaking or cooking (to speed up the softening process), but you can still achieve that perfect creamy texture with nothing but water - unless your water is especially hard.

Baking soda creates an alkaline environment which reduces soaking and cooking time and preserves the beans' skin. As a result, the old bean's color comes to life, keeping them vibrant instead of dull. Compared to the grainy texture offered by old beans, baking soda beans can yield a creamy and smooth texture.

On the other side of the pH equation, the addition of an alkali such as baking soda will break down the cell structure of the beans. But use it sparingly—no more than1/8 teaspoon per pound of beans. Too much will destroy nutrients and result in mushy beans.

Baking soda can help neutralize stomach acid, which may relieve painful bloating. Try drinking an 8-ounce glass of water with 1/2 teaspoon of dissolved baking soda.