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I make black eyed peas once a year for good luck and good leftovers.  Two years ago I finally captured the recipe in this blog format. Last year due to supply chain issues there was no ground turkey so I used cow. This year there was plenty of ground turkey but I used stewed tomatoes and beef broth. The beans should turn out tasty but the voice inside my head says,

“Self.  You need to document the changes in the recipe .”

So I did. Here are the links to the earlier Badass posts.

Badass Black Eyed Peas and Black Eyed Peas – Pandemic Version 2021

4 slices center cut bacon
1 T extra virgin olive oil
1 medium sweet onion, diced
1 stalk celery, diced
1 large green pepper, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp each smoked paprika, chili powder
1 T Mexican oregano
1 T cumin
1 qt no sodium beef broth
2 T tomato paste and one 15 ounce can stewed tomatoes
1/2 lb black eyed peas (dried)
1 lb ground turkey 85/15
Salt & pepper to taste
Cayenne pepper to taste

1. Place the dried beans into a stock pot large enough to hold the beans when fully plumped up.  Rinse the beans with water several times.  Fill the pot with fresh water and soak overnight.
2. In the morning drain then add fresh water to the beans. Change the soaking water at least twice.
3. In a large stock pot fry the bacon in the olive oil until the strips are crisp and the fat is rendered.
4. Saute the onion, celery, and green pepper until softened about five minutes.  Add the garlic and saute another minute.
5. Add the turkey and brown, breaking up the clumps as you go.
6. Toss everything else into the pool.  Spices, tomato paste, broth, and beans.
7. The black eyed peas should be drained and the chicken broth needs to barely cover all of the ingredients.
8. Bring to a boil then simmer for several hours with the pot partially covered.
9. Check the pot and stir occasionally.  Add more broth as the peas cook and the dish thickens.
10. Serve with grated cheese, sour cream, and your favorite hot sauce.
11. Yum.  Makes about 6-8 servings.

Odd Notes

This dish will taste better on day two. At the two hour mark I tested for seasoning and amped the beans up a bit. The beef broth works well and now I’m glad I wrote this down because in a year I will have forgotten this substitution.

This year I reduced the quantity of dried beans because someone in the family once told me I put too much beans in my chili. So the 2021 version is meatier than in past versions.

Texas Corn Bread of course.

Happy New Year! I hope this dish brings you much good luck in 2022.