Rediscovering Black-Eyed Peas

I discovered this black-eyed peas Greek salad on my recent trip to Greece at a taverna called Remetzo's in Perdika Beach on the island of Aegina. I loved the restaurant and these black-eyed peas so much we ate at the restaurant three times, ordering these black-eyed peas each time. It was the only restaurant we ate at multiple times on the 2 1/2 week trip. So that says a lot! Here are some views from Remetzo's Taverna. Can you see why we had such a great time here?

 

I particularly like this last shot. It speaks of a voyage yet to come and shows the juxtaposition of two types of adventurers - sailors and motorcyclists. Which one are you?

Here is a photo of Remetzo's black-eyed peas salad shot on my iPhone at the restaurant.

 

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Greece via Arkansas

Who knew black-eyed peas were Greek? My great-grandmother, Granny Moore, who was from Arkansas, made black-eyed peas for me when I was a little tyke. I always thought of them as an American dish, and particularly a southern dish. Turns out there are a lot of things I didn't know about black-eyed peas. Check out my Black-Eyed Peas article to get the low-down on this nutritious legume.

Make in Advance

This salad gets better after 24 hours in the fridge. The beans soak up the dressing and become even more delicious.

Nutritious, Economical and Delicious

This dish epitomizes the Mediterranean diet as it is vegetable dense and loaded with olive oil. Black-eyed peas are one of the most nutritious legumes, so make a big batch of this and take the leftovers to work for a fabulous and filling lunch.

Dried vs Canned Black-Eyed Peas

You can use either in this recipe. Benefits of cooking dried black-eyed peas from scratch:

• Are more economical (but let's face it canned peas are a bargain too)
• Avoid exposure to bPa that is in the lining of canned beans
• Allow you to control salt content
• Allow you to control level of doneness -- al dente vs. mushy

Cons of cooking black-eyed peas from scratch:

• Takes more time
• If you don't watch carefully you can overcook and get mushy peas

Benefits of using canned black-eyed peas:

• Time saver
• This becomes a no-cook recipe
• Most canned black-eyed peas are cooked to a reasonable doneness

What Color Are Black-Eyed Peas?

Black-eyed peas come in different colors from beige to pink.

I was surprised when I opened up this can of black-eyed peas to discover that they were pink even though the label showed the beige and black ones I am more familiar with. No worries about the difference in color. They are all delicious.

Variations on this Black-Eyed Peas Salad to Fit Multiple Diets

I developed this as a vegetarian recipe, incorporating a little feta cheese to punch it up. You can make it as a vegan dish by just eliminating the cheese. Or you can add a little diced roast chicken if you want to give this black-eyed peas salad a little more heft. It works well as a side dish or as a main course.

Want More Information on Black-Eyed Peas?

Check out my blog post Black-Eyed Peas, the International, Healthy, Affordable and Lucky Legume to learn more about the nutritional value of black-eyed peas, where they are eaten and how to minimize gas from eating legumes.

How Do You Like to Enjoy Black-Eyed Peas?

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