Smoky Black Eyed Pea Soup
Bring in the New Year with a bowl of hearty Black-Eyed Pea Soup with collard greens and smoky creole seasoning! This cozy plant-based recipe is healthy and delicious!
Black eyed peas are a New Year’s tradition that is said to bring good luck.
And when served with cornbread, it represents gold, and when stewed with tomatoes, it symbolizes health and wealth.
So don’t mind me if I eat the whole pot! 😍 Are you with me? Then keep on reading…
Why We Love This Recipe!
- Easy one-pot meal! Whether starting with soaked or canned black eye peas, this recipe cooks fairly fast but tastes like it stewed for hours. Since it cooks in one pot, you’ll have less clean-up and more time to enjoy. You’ll also find Instant Pot and Slow Cooker instructions!
- It’s healthy and nutritious! Made with plant-based whole foods, this vegan black eyed pea soup is loaded with protein and fiber to keep you feeling fuller longer. Plus, it provides plenty of essential vitamins, minerals, and macro nutrients. See recipe card for more info!
- This recipe makes plenty, so you will have leftovers. It will yield enough for 8, making it perfect for a small crowd. Even if you’re not feeding that many, you’ll be glad to have leftovers because they taste even better the next day.
Ingedient Notes
Black eyed peas – My favorite black eyed peas are freshly cooked from dried beans, but canned beans can be used for convenience. I’ve noted in the recipe different cooking times depending on what you’re starting with.
Collard greens – These healthy greens are added at the end of cooking to keep them vibrant in color and somewhat al dente. If you find them to be a bit bitter, feel free to add them early and cook them down until completely soft. There is no wrong way to eat your collard greens! For variation, kale, chard, or spinach can be used.
Mirepoix – A classic mix of onion, carrots, and celery is sauteed, creating a nice flavor base for the soup.
Tomatoes – You can use 1 can (28oz.) or 2 smaller cans (14oz.). Use the whole can with juices and all. We love using fire-roasted diced tomatoes when possible for the extra flavor.
Herbs – We used a mix of dried thyme, basil, and oregano in keeping with a creole seasoning in mind. For variation, you can use a seasoning mix such as poultry, Italian, or even herbes de Provence.
Spices – Here we kept it simple with just smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, and plenty of black pepper (and salt). And, for good measure, onion and garlic powder are added to the mix.
Veg paste – We love using Better Than Bouillon (affiliate link) as our vegetable broth base. It’s super convenient, and you only need a little. Plus, it lasts for months in the fridge. I only used 1 teaspoon for this recipe.
How To Make Black Eyed Pea Soup
Here is a quick overview of the process with a few photos for reference. The full printable recipe card is below.
Making black-eyed pea soup couldn’t be easier!
- Start by sauteeing the onion, carrots, and celery for 7 – 10 minutes.
- Add the garlic, herbs, and spices, and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add the black eyed peas, tomatoes, and vegetable broth. Bring it all to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 20 minutes to 1 hour (depending on whether using canned or dried beans).
- About 5 minutes before soup is done, stir in the collard greens and cook until softened and wilted.
And that’s it – now you’re ready to enjoy and bring yourself some good luck!
Commonly Asked Questions
How do you soak black eyed peas?
For an overnight soak, place the dried beans in a pot of water, covering them with 1 – 2 inches, and let soak for at least 8 hours, drain water. For a quick soak, heat the beans up to a boil, remove them from the heat, and let them soak in the hot water for 1 hour. Drain the water.
How long does it take to cook black eyed peas?
On the stovetop, presoaked black eye peas take about 1 hour to cook. In the Instant Pot, they take about 8 minutes at HIGH pressure to fully cook. When using a slow cooker, it will take 3 – 4 hours on HIGH or 5 – 6 hours on LOW.
Can I make this recipe in an Instant Pot or slow cooker?
Absolutely! In the notes section of the printable recipe card below, you will find instructions for both of these methods. And if you have additional questions, just ask in the comments. I’m always here to help!
Serving Suggestions
Complete your bowl of soup with any of these delicious options:
- Vegan Cornbread (our favorite)
- Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins (for a spicy kick)
- Sweet Chia Cornbread (with nutritious chia seeds)
- Juice of a lemon wedge adds brightness to your individual bowl and is always a welcome addition to this soup.
How To Store, Freeze + Reheat
Refrigerator: Leftovers will keep for 5 – 6 days in the refrigerator, stored in a covered container.
Freezer: Black-eye pea soup freezes well for up to 2 – 3 months! To freeze, let cool completely and store in sealed containers like these freezer-safe meal prep containers (affiliate link). You can also freeze larger portions in gallon-size ziplock bags.
Reheat: Warm on the stovetop or in the microwave. Simply re-warm on the stovetop over low heat or the microwave for 30 – 60 second intervals, stirring after each interval, until warmed through.
More Healthy Soup Recipes!
- Hearty Vegan Lentil Soup (rich + savory)
- Lemon Chickpea Orzo Soup (fan-favorite)
- Vegan Tomato Basil Soup
- Kale, Quinoa + White Bean Soup
- A Very Good Vegan Split Pea Soup (thick + creamy)
If you try this easy soup recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.
PrintBlack Eyed Pea Soup
Savory and hearty, this Black Eyed Pea Soup with collards is an easy one-pot meal made 100% vegan, gluten-free, and low-fat. It’s a healthy way to bring the new year and enjoy to your heart’s content!
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 min
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: Serves 6 – 8 1x
- Category: Entree, Soup
- Method: simmer
- Cuisine: Southern, Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 lb. black eyed peas, soaked – see notes (or 3 cans (14oz), drained and rinsed)
- 2 tablespoon olive oil or 1/3 cup water
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 2 large carrots, diced
- 2 celery ribs, sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon EACH thyme, basil, and oregano
- 1 teaspoon EACH garlic + onion powder
- 1/2 – 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
- 1 can (28oz.) diced tomatoes, with the juices
- 2 – 3 cups collard greens, chopped
- 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
- 1/2 – 1 teaspoon EACH salt + pepper, or to taste
Instructions
Saute: In a large dutch oven, heat oil or water over medium heat, add onion, carrots, and celery, saute for 7 – 10 minutes. Add the garlic, smoked paprika, thyme, basil, oregano, and garlic & onion powder, cook until fragrant, about 1 – 2 minutes.
Simmer: Add the black-eyed peas, tomatoes, and vegetable broth, bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 20 minutes (for canned) to 1 1/4 hours (for soaked), or until beans are tender. Before soup is done, about 5 – 10 minutes ahead, stir in the collard greens. Season with plenty of salt and pepper.
Serve: We love adding a squeeze of lemon over the top of our serving bowls for brightness. And this slightly sweet Vegan Cornbread is the perfect accompaniment to this savory soup!
Serves 6 – 8
Store: Leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 6 days. For longer storage, freeze for up to 2 – 3 months. Let thaw before reheating.
Notes
How to soak black-eyed peas: Place the beans in a pot of water, covering them with 1 – 2 inches, and let soak for at least 8 hours, drain water. For a quick soak, heat the beans up to a boil, remove from heat and let soak in the hot water for 1 hour, drain water.
How long does it take to cook black eyed peas? On the stovetop, presoaked beans take about 1 hour to cook. In the Instant Pot, they take about 8 minutes at HIGH pressure to fully cook. When using a slow cooker, it will take 3 – 4 hours on HIGH or 5 – 6 hours on LOW.
Herbs: For variation, use poultry, Italian, or herbes de provence.
Greens: Switch up the collards with kale, chard, or spinach.
Other Cooking Methods:
Instant Pot: Add everything to the pot, except the collards, attach and seal the lid. Cook on HIGH pressure for 2 minutes (using canned beans) or 8 minutes (using soaked beans). Stir in the collards when done, and season well.
Slow-Cooker: If using dried beans, there is no need to soak the beans. Add everything to the bowl of a slow cooker, except for the collards. Cook on HIGH for 7 – 8 hours (if using canned or presoaked beans, cook on LOW for 5 – 6 hours or HIGH for 3 – 4 hours). Stir in collards at the end, and season well with salt and pepper.
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This recipe can’t be found under the “dinners” section of your website.
Oops, you are right! Somehow that category was skipped. I’ve updated it, and you can now find the recipe in the ‘dinner‘ section. Thank you for pointing that out, Jillian!
I loved this! I made it today. It’s hearty and healthy. I made mine with no oil
Made yesterday for New Years’ Day and it was a crowd pleaser! Thank you!
Wonderful to hear everyone enjoy the soup! Happy New Year and thank you for sharing, Randi!
Tastes delicious! It’s great for the winter months here in Ohio. I made this meal for New Year’s Day as well. Thank you!
Thanks for sharing, Dani! Happy New Year to you and yours!
Absolutely love love love this soup! Made it last night, and it’s so good. I’ve also got some portions in the freezer for a later date. Super quick and easy to make and the flavours are awesome! Will be making this time and time again, thank you so much!
So glad you enjoyed the soup, Deborah! Thanks for sharing!
Simple and lovely, I followed the recipe to a t. Thank you for another great soup recipe!
This soup delivers!
Very satisfying, filling (in a good way), and tasty.
It makes a lot. We froze half of what remained and so have a future meal “in the bank.”
Thank you!
As the daughter of a Deep South mother, I was exposed to black-eyed peas, turnip greens (Hey, this is what was on the table.), buttermilk cornbread – No Sugar!! Older cooks from the south are adamant when it comes to adding sugar. Vegan cornbread is quite different — I do love your recipes, and the black-eyed pea soup is delicious!!
Thanks for sharing, Nancy!
This is a perfect New Year’s meal! Great on a cold winter night. Delicious comfort food.
Absolutely delicious! I made a test batch before the New Years and it will most def be on the menu!