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Cozy Slow Cooker Black-Eyed Peas with Ham

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This cozy slow cooker black-eyed peas with ham is the kind of meal that wraps you up in a warm blanket of flavor after a long day. Set it and forget it for a rich, hearty meal that tastes like it simmered all day.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound dried black-eyed peas, rinsed and picked over
  • 1 meaty ham bone or 2 smoked ham hocks (about 1–1.5 pounds total)
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • Salt to taste
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Rinse and pick over the black-eyed peas. Place the dried peas in a large colander and rinse them under cold running water. Pick through them with your fingers to remove any small stones or shriveled peas.
  2. Prep your vegetables. Dice the onion, celery, and carrots into roughly 1/2-inch pieces. Mince the garlic finely.
  3. Layer the ingredients in the slow cooker. Place the ham bone or ham hocks in the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the rinsed peas on top, then scatter the diced onion, celery, carrots, and minced garlic over everything. Tuck the bay leaf in there too.
  4. Add the liquids and seasonings. Pour in the chicken broth and water. Add the dried thyme, smoked paprika, black pepper, and cayenne (if using). Give everything a gentle stir with a wooden spoon.
  5. Cook low and slow. Put the lid on your slow cooker and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours. The peas should be tender but still hold their shape when done.
  6. Remove the ham bone. Carefully use tongs to lift the ham bone or hocks out of the slow cooker and place them on a cutting board. Let them cool for a few minutes until safe to handle.
  7. Shred the ham. Once the ham is cool enough to touch, use a fork to pull the meat off the bone. Discard any fat, skin, and bones. Roughly chop any larger pieces.
  8. Thicken the broth. Using a potato masher or the back of a large spoon, gently smash about 1/4 to 1/3 of the black-eyed peas right in the pot to release their starch and thicken the broth.
  9. Return the ham to the pot. Stir the shredded ham back into the thickened pea mixture. Taste the broth and add salt as needed. Remove the bay leaf and discard it.
  10. Let it rest. Let the finished dish sit in the slow cooker on the ‘warm’ setting for 10-15 minutes before serving.
  11. Serve and garnish. Ladle the black-eyed peas and ham into bowls. Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley.

Notes

Don’t skip the smashing step—it thickens the broth naturally. Wait until the end to add salt because the ham is already salty. If using dried peas, soaking is optional but can reduce cooking time by about an hour. For a vegetarian version, skip the ham, use vegetable broth, and add 1 teaspoon liquid smoke and extra smoked paprika.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker black-eyed peas, ham, comfort food, Southern, New Year's Day, cozy, easy, set it and forget it

Find it online: https://ovenmila.com/cozy-slow-cooker-black-eyed-peas-with-ham/