Southern Purple hull peas, or pink eyed peas, are a staple menu item on Southern dinner tables, and are usually served as New Year’s Eve Southen Dish,”Hoppin’ John“, or served with homemade cornbread and fresh tomatoes. Not only are they delicious, they’re healthy, too! Blackeyed or purple hull peas have helped keep many a family to keep from starving to death!
Purple hull peas are absolutly delicious even when prepared with minimal seasonings. The creamy texture and flavor is a bit different from its cousin, the black-eyed pea. Whenever possible, get some purple hull peas and freeze them for later!
What’s the Difference Between Purple Hull and Black Eyed Peas?
Southern peas are also called “cow” or “field” peas, and black-eyed and purple hull peas are cousins. Black eyed peas are pale in color and have a dark black “eye”, where purple hulls are a little greener in color and have a tiny pink ring around their purple eye.
There are several varieties of Southern peas and, depending upon where you live, they may be called different names. Over the years, pea crops have co-mingled, so it’s not uncommon to find a variety of cowpeas grown and served together on a Southern table.
Owner of B&L Design and Antiques, Andalusia, AL
While both are delicious, black-eyed peas are pale white and have a somewhat grainy texture. Some claim they’re not quite as flavorful as their pink-eyed, purple cousin. Purple hulls are a pale green and are less grainy than the black-eyed–they have the texture of a “cream” pea. Unfortunately, they’re available only in the summer, so if you love them and want to eat them year-round, you’ll want to buy a bushel and freeze them.
How Do I Season Peas?
Southern cooks usually put a salty piece of pork in the water or broth while they’re cooking, such as a smoked ham hock, bacon, fatback or ham. Add a little salt, pepper and garlic powder and allow the delicious flavor of the peas to shine!
Vegetarian alternative seasononings
Another way to ramp up the flavor for vegetarians is to include cooking the purple hull or blaci eyed peas in a seasoned vegetable broth with sauteed onion, celery and bell pepper, (also known as “The Holy Trinity” in the South) and add a few teaspoons of Liquid Smoke. This gives a “smokey-meat flavor” without using animal products.
How Do I Cook Fresh Peas?
If you’re lucky enough to have fresh peas, cooking them is a breeze! Now days, most farmers mechanically shell their crops, but if your peas are still in their shells, you’ll want to shell and rinse them first.
Stove Top Method
- Shell and rinse the peas
- Add them to a large stockpot with your choice of meat (bacon, ham hock, fatback, ham),
- Fill the stockpot with water or chicken broth and bring to a rolling boil. (A foam forms early in the cooking process, which is just water soluble proteins released from the peas. You can either scoop it off or leave it–it will seep back into the peas.)
- Reduce heat to low, cover and allow to cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours; be sure to check the liquid level and add more if needed
- Season with salt, pepper and/or a pinch of garlic powder
Slow Cooker Method
Add all ingredients into crock pot and cook on low 5-6 hours.
InstantPot Method
Place fresh peas, 2 1/2 cups of water or broth and seasonings in instant pot. Set timer to Manual for 20 minutes; allow steam to release. (total time=about 40 minutes)
How Do I Cook Frozen Field Peas?
Cook and season frozen Southern peas the same way as fresh, but rinse the frozen peas prior to adding them to the stockpot in order to remove any ice crystals.
How Do I Store Southern Peas?
Storing Cooked Peas
Store fresh and frozen cooked peas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. If you want to freeze cooked peas, use a freezer-storage container and store them up to six months.
Storing Fresh, Uncooked Peas
NOTE: If you buy peas that have been shelled, blanched and packaged, just put them directly in the freezer. Do not rinse peas that have been blanched or they will go sour in the freezer!!
- Wash shelled peas and bring a pot of water to boil
- Blanch peas in water or broth for 2 minutes then, place them in a bowl of ice cold water until they are no longer warm
- Drain peas and allow them to air-dry; once dry, place them in airtight plastic bags; don’t fill the bag all the way up; leave about 2 inches of space
- Reduce air in bag, zip and label the package with the date, and place in the freezer
- Store fresh peas up to 6 months
Variations for Cooking and Seasoning Peas
Once you’ve mastered how to cook and season Southern purple hull peas, you can experiment with variations!
- Vegetarian/Vegan: use vegetable broth or water, add a few splashes of Liquid Smoke® as a substitute for the meat flavor
- Add Fresh or Frozen Okra:
- Okra and Southern Peas go great together and many cooks add okra to their peas
- Bring the cooked peas back to a boil
- Add whole or chopped, fresh or frozen okra to the peas
- Allow to boil 2-5 minutes until okra is tender
- NOTE: okra is a thickening agent; after adding the okra, you might want to add more liquid to the peas
- Hoppin’ John:
Most Southerners serve Hoppin’ John on New Year’s Eve for Good Luck. It typically consists of black eyed peas, rice, bacon, chopped onion and bell peppers. Substitute purple hull or pink eye purple hulls for the black eyed peas.
Where Can I Purchase Purple Hull Peas?
You can usually find these peas at a local farmer’s market; however, if you don’t live near one, here are a few resources for ordering:
Sides Pea Farm: Canton, Texas
Farmer’s Market of Grapevine: Grapevine, Texas
Ed Lester Farms: Coushatta, Louisiana
How Much is a Bushel of Peas?
A bushel is a volume measurement which is equivalent to about 20 – 26 lbs. A bushel of peas is about 10 lbs. of shelled peas.
Now that you know how to cook and season Southern purple hull peas, you can apply this method to just about any legume!
Other Southern Dishes You Might Like: Restaurant Quality Fried Catfish, Chicken Fried Steak, Mom’s Homemade Meatloaf
Purple Hull Peas
Ingredients
- 1 quart purple hull peas shelled and hulled
- 6-8 cups water or chicken broth
- 1 smoked ham hock, or 2-3 slices of bacon, uncooked (optional: see recipe notes)
- pinch of garlic or onion powder optional
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Rinse and drain fresh or frozen peas
- In a large stockpot, add peas and 6 cups of water or broth; enough to cover peas
- Bring to boil for 10 minutes; if a foam appears, either scrape it off or leave it; (it will dissolve)
- Reduce heat to low, add about 3-4 more cups of water; cover and allow to cook for 1½-2 hours
- Once peas are tender, season with salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste; remove from heat and allow to sit for about 10 minutes; if you want to add okra, do it now: bring the peas back up to a rolling boil, add okra, allow to boil for 2-5 minutes: cover and allow to rest for 15 min
- Serve with cornbread and sliced tomatoes
Notes
How to Cook and Season Southern Purple Hull Peas
How Do I Season Peas?
There are many ways to season peas. Southern folks usually put a salty piece of pork in the beans while they're cooking, such as a smoked ham hock, slices of bacon, or chopped ham. Add a little salt, pepper and garlic powder and allow the delicious flavor of the peas to shine!How Do I Cook Fresh Peas?
If you're lucky enough to have fresh peas, cooking them is a breeze! Now days, most farmers mechanically shell their crops, but if your peas are still in their shells, you'll want to shell and rinse them first.- Shell and rinse the peas
- Add them to a large stockpot with your choice of meat (bacon, ham hock, fatback, ham),
- Fill the stockpot with water or chicken broth and bring to a rolling boil. (A foam forms early in the cooking process, which is just water soluble proteins released from the peas. You can either scoop it off or leave it--it will seep back into the peas.)
- Reduce heat to low, cover and allow to cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours; be sure to check the liquid level and add more if needed
- Once the peas are tender, add salt, pepper and garlic powder
How Do I Cook Frozen Field Peas?
Cook frozen Southern peas the same way as fresh, but rinse the frozen peas prior to adding them to the stockpot in order to remove any ice crystals.How Do I Store Southern Peas?
Storing Cooked Peas
Store fresh and frozen cooked peas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. If you want to freeze cooked peas, use a freezer-storage container and store them up to six months.Storing Fresh, Uncooked Peas
NOTE: If you buy peas that have been shelled, blanched and packaged, just put them directly in the freezer. Do not rinse peas that have been blanched or they will go sour in the freezer!!- Wash shelled peas and bring a pot of water to boil
- Blanche peas in water or broth for 2 minutes then place them in a bowl of ice cold water until they are no longer warm
- Drain peas and place them in airtight plastic bags; don't fill the bag all the way up; leave about 2 inches of space
- Reduce air in bag, zip the bag, label the package with the date, and place in the freezer
- Store fresh peas up to 6 months
Variations for Cooking and Seasoning Southern Peas
- Vegetarian/Vegan: use vegetable broth or water, add a few splashes of Liquid Smoke® as a substitute for the meat flavor
- Add Fresh or Frozen Okra:
- Okra and Southern Peas go great together and many cooks add okra to their peas.
- Bring the cooked peas back to a boil
- Add whole or chopped, fresh or frozen okra to the peas
- Allow to boil 2-5 minutes until okra is tender
- NOTE: okra is a thickening agent; after adding the okra, you might want to add more liquid to the peas
- Hoppin' John:
Got Comments or Questions? I’d Love to Hear from You!
Shanna says
To die for! Thanks so much for posting!
Anecia says
Thank you, Shanna!