Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Add the dried black-eyed peas to a large bowl and cover with cold water. Let them sit for 2-3 hours.
- In a large, heavy pot, sauté chopped bacon until brown and crispy, 5-6 minutes.
- Add in the ham hocks and sauté for 5 minutes.
- Add the onions, celery, garlic, thyme, and bay leaf and sauté for about 3-5 minutes until the onions are wilted.
- Pour in the chicken broth or water.
- 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.
- Reduce heat, and simmer, covered, for about 30 minutes while stirring occasionally, or until the beans are tender and have the desired consistency.
- Add the fresh chopped spinach.
- Add more stock or water if your beans become thick and dry. The texture of the beans should be soupy.
- Remove the bay leaves and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve with fresh bread.
Nutrition
Notes
For softer beans with more flavor, soak them in cold water with three tablespoons of salt for 3-4 hours before cooking. If you are short on time, you can skip soaking, but the cooking time will increase by about ten minutes. A quick soak method involves covering the black-eyed peas with at least two inches of water, bringing them to a boil, turning off the heat, and letting the peas rest for an hour before cooking. Cooking beans in their soaking water generally results in more flavorful beans, unless you are concerned about digestive issues.