Description
Hearty black-eyed pea soup brings Southern comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen, warming souls with rich, smoky flavors. Nourishing ingredients blend perfectly, offering you a delicious taste of home-cooked tradition.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein and Legumes:
- 2 cans (15 ounces / 425 grams each) black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup cooked smoked sausage, sliced (optional, for a smoky flavor)
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 2 cups fresh spinach or kale (optional)
- 1 can (14.5 ounces / 411 grams) diced tomatoes, with juice
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Warm olive oil in a spacious pot over medium temperature, introducing finely chopped onion, minced garlic, diced carrots, sliced celery, and chopped bell pepper.
- Sauté the vegetable medley for approximately 5-7 minutes, stirring periodically until ingredients become tender and aromatic.
- Sprinkle smoked paprika, thyme, and cayenne pepper into the vegetable mixture, allowing the spices to bloom and release their intense flavors for about 60 seconds.
- Cascade chicken or vegetable broth into the pot, followed by diced tomatoes and black-eyed peas, ensuring all components are thoroughly integrated.
- Elevate the liquid to a robust boil, then immediately reduce heat to a gentle simmer, covering the pot to allow flavors to harmonize for 20-25 minutes.
- If incorporating smoked sausage, introduce it during the final 10 minutes of cooking to prevent overcooking and maintain textural integrity.
- Moments before serving, fold in fresh spinach or kale, permitting the greens to gently wilt for 2-3 minutes.
- Calibrate the soup’s seasoning with salt and freshly cracked black pepper, tasting and adjusting as needed.
- Ladle the fragrant soup into serving bowls, garnishing with freshly chopped parsley and accompanying with rustic crusty bread or traditional cornbread.
Notes
- Swap chicken broth with vegetable broth to make this soup completely vegetarian, maintaining rich flavor profiles while accommodating plant-based dietary needs.
- For gluten-sensitive individuals, ensure all broth and seasoning ingredients are certified gluten-free and serve with gluten-free bread alternatives.
- Boost protein content by adding extra beans like kidney or cannellini, or include quinoa for enhanced nutritional value without compromising the soup’s authentic taste.
- Control sodium levels by using low-sodium broth and gradually adding salt, tasting as you go to prevent over-seasoning while keeping the soup’s robust flavor intact.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg