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Easy Slow Cooker Black-Eyed Pea Soup for Good Luck

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This easy slow cooker black-eyed pea soup is a happy accident turned tradition. With minimal effort, you get a creamy, smoky, and deeply comforting soup that’s perfect for New Year’s good luck or any chilly day.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound dried black-eyed peas (rinsed and picked over, no need to soak)
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced (about 2 cups)
  • 3 celery stalks, diced
  • 3 medium carrots, peeled and diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 smoked ham hock or 8 ounces smoked turkey leg
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt (add at the end)
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (optional, for finishing)
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
  • Hot sauce or red pepper flakes (optional, for serving)

Instructions

  1. Rinse and pick over the black-eyed peas: Place the dried peas in a large bowl, cover with cold water, swish, and drain. Remove any small stones or shriveled peas.
  2. Prep the vegetables: Dice the onion, celery, and carrots into ½-inch cubes. Mince the garlic.
  3. Layer ingredients in the slow cooker: Place the diced vegetables, minced garlic, and rinsed black-eyed peas in the slow cooker. Nestle the ham hock or smoked turkey leg in the center. Add bay leaves, dried thyme, smoked paprika, and black pepper.
  4. Add the liquid: Pour in the chicken broth and water. The liquid should cover the ingredients by about an inch. Do not add salt yet.
  5. Cook low and slow: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Stir gently halfway through if desired.
  6. Remove the ham hock: Once the peas are tender and the soup has thickened, use tongs to remove the ham hock. Let it cool, then shred the meat, discarding fat, skin, and bones. Return the shredded meat to the soup.
  7. Season and finish: Stir in the salt and apple cider vinegar. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
  8. Serve and garnish: Ladle into bowls, garnish with fresh parsley and hot sauce if desired. Serve with crusty bread or cornbread.

Notes

Don’t soak the black-eyed peas; they cook perfectly without it. Add salt at the end to prevent tough beans. For a vegetarian version, omit the ham hock and add 1 tablespoon liquid smoke and 1 teaspoon smoked paprika. The soup thickens as it sits; add extra broth when reheating if needed.

Nutrition

Keywords: black-eyed pea soup, slow cooker soup, New Year's soup, Southern soup, easy soup, comfort food, ham hock soup

Find it online: https://novanosh.com/easy-slow-cooker-black-eyed-pea-soup-for-good-luck/