The last few years my family has started out the new year by eating black eyed peas. I found these beautiful yellow eyed peas at the farm market. The owner says they are in the same family but have a smoother taste and greater depth of flavor. They are considered an heirloom bean. You may know that black eyed peas are often served on New Year’s Day because its thought they bring good luck. However, yellow eyed peas are thought to bring not just luck, but luck in the form of GOLD. So, I am going with it! ‘Cause I could really use some gold right about now!
If you can’t find yellow eyed peas this recipe would also be great with traditional black eyed peas.
I wanted to keep it simple. Because after the Holidays, cooking is the last thing we all want to do right?
I have made a couple of variations of these in the past few weeks to get the recipe just right. This last time, I added the ham bone from the holiday ham. It added a great dimension to the flavor, but is not necessary for the beans to taste yummy. So if you have it, add it. If not, no worries, it will still be great.
Enjoy these with a glass of bubbly! Happy New Year from My Clean Kitchen!
Local Ingredient: Yellow Eyed Peas from the Farm Market.
Heirloom Yelloweye Beans
From my local farmers market
Soaking
Aren't they pretty
Mmmm, Can't wait to eat them
Bring me some luck in the new year!
Ingredients
2-2 1/2 cups Dried Yellow Eyed Beans (Black Eyed Peas would work as well)
Water
2 Bay Leaves
1 Medium Onion, diced
1 cup baby organic carrots, diced
2 Garlic Cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
1/4 teaspoon Fresh Cracked Black Pepper
Ham Bone (Optional)
Instructions
- Start by soaking the beans overnight in a large bowl or pot. Simply place the beans in the bowl and add about 4-5 cups of water. The beans will double in size during soaking. Cover the beans and let them sit on the counter at room temperature. This can be done overnight or for at least 8 hours.
- Once the beans are ready, drain the water and rinse the beans in a colander or strainer.
- Add the beans to the slow cooker or stock pot. Add 5 cups of water.
- Add bay leaves, onion, carrots and garlic. If using the ham bone, also add that here.
- Cook on low heat for 7-8 hours.
- About an hour before the beans are done, add the salt and pepper and stir to combine.
- Garnish with diced onions or diced tomato, if desired.
I love black eyed peas and cook them every new year’s.. My mom has been telling me she’s been cooking yellow eye beans lately for no special reason.. I live in Va she lives in WV I had looked all over here for them with no luck so when I went back home to visit I bought a bag to try I just put them on to cook if they taste as good as the black eyed peas I will be cooking them again.
I get all my heirlooms beans from Ranchogordo.com …. They are THE BEST!!