Black-eyed peas with bacon in a slow cooker: a comforting Southern dish
With this slow cooker recipe for black-eyed peas with bacon, you can embrace the rich history and tastes of Southern cooking. It's the epitome of coziness, warmth, and comforting deliciousness. This recipe will please your taste and spirit, whether it is eaten for good fortune on New Year's Day or any other day when you just want something cozy to eat.
Ingredients: 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth or water; 1 pound dry black-eyed peas, washed
One medium onion, chopped; three garlic cloves, minced; one bay leaf
One tsp of smoky paprika
One-half tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp cayenne (optional, for added heat)
Six thick-cut bacon slices, divided into half-inch pieces
Eight ounces of chopped ham
To taste, add salt and black pepper.
fresh parsley that has been chopped (optional)
Instructions:
Get the black-eyed peas ready:
After sorting and washing, remove any stones or dirt from the black-eyed peas.
Add all ingredients to the slow cooker.
Add the dried thyme, smoked paprika, chopped ham, onion, garlic, bay leaf, black-eyed peas, and cayenne pepper (if using) to the slow cooker.
Crisp the Bacon: Cook the bacon in a pan over medium heat until it is crispy and golden. With a tablespoon of bacon grease set aside for flavor enhancement, transfer the cooked bacon to the slow cooker.
Slow Cook: Until the peas are soft, stir the contents of the slow cooker, cover, and cook on high for 6-7 hours or on low for 10–12 hours.
After removing the bay leaf, add salt and black pepper to the peas before serving. Mix well to blend tastes.
