Description
Smoky black eyed pea soup is a hearty, meatless dish packed with tender peas, collard greens, and savory seasonings. This comforting recipe is budget-friendly and perfect for a cozy meal, delivering smoky flavor without the need for meat. Simple to make, this soup is perfect for meal prepping and can easily be adapted for stovetop or slow cooker cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 large carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 ½ cups dried black eyed peas, rinsed
- 6 cups vegetable broth
- 2 cups chopped collard greens
- 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 oz)
- ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Optional: red pepper flakes for heat
Instructions
- Prepare the Vegetables: Begin by chopping your onion, celery, carrots, garlic, and collard greens. Preparing everything ahead makes cooking smoother.
- Sauté for a Smoky Base: Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 6–7 minutes until the vegetables soften. Add garlic and cook 1 more minute. Sprinkle in smoked paprika, thyme, oregano, onion powder, and garlic powder. Stir so the spices toast lightly, deepening their flavor.
- Add Dried Black Eyed Peas and Broth: Pour in the dried black eyed peas, vegetable broth, tomatoes, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
- Add Fresh Collard Greens: Add in the collard greens. They will shrink as they cook, so don’t worry if the pot looks full.
- Simmer Until Tender: Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 60–75 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the peas are soft and fully cooked. If using canned peas, reduce simmer time to 20 minutes.
- Season, Taste, and Serve: Remove the bay leaves. Taste your soup and adjust salt and pepper. If you’d like a deeper flavor, add a pinch more smoked paprika. Serve warm with crusty bread or a light side.
Notes
- Rinse dried peas thoroughly: Rinsing the dried peas removes any dust or debris.
- Don’t skip sautéing: This step adds a lot of flavor to the soup.
- Cook low and slow: This gives you creamier peas and a deeper flavor.
- Add greens later: If you prefer firmer greens, add them towards the end.
- Use a Dutch oven: This will give you even heat and a thick consistency.
- Simmer uncovered: If you want a thicker soup, let it simmer uncovered near the end.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 75 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 9g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Smoky Black Eyed Pea Soup, Meatless Soup, Comfort Soup, Black Eyed Pea Soup, Collard Greens Soup, Southern Soup