Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas

instant pot black eyed peas | black eyed peas instant pot | black eyed peas and ham | pressure cooker black eyed peas

Step-by-Step Guide on how to cook Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas. Easy no soak recipe for cooking black eyed pea soup in Instant Pot. Flavorful hearty soup packed with creamy beans with greens and tender ham. Deliciously comforting and nutritious soup not just for New Year’s Day!

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black eyed peas instant pot

Black Eyed Peas

Black eyed pea is a type of bean that’s creamy yellow-white in color with black “eyes” on one side. They’re also known as black-eyed beans, cowpea, or goat peas. Despite the name, black-eyed peas are actually beans, not peas!

Black eyed peas are highly nourishing and nutritious – rich in fiber and protein.

In the American South, black eyed peas and collard greens (or other greens) are considered a Lucky New Year food that brings prosperity in the new year.

black eyed peas recipe instant pot

Ways to Use Black Eyed Peas:

Black eyed pea is a very versatile ingredient you can use in many dishes in cuisines from around the world. Here are some tasty ways to use black eyed peas:

  • Add to soups, salads, and stir-fried dishes
  • Mix with other beans
  • Make curries, desserts
  • Make traditional Southern Hoppin’ John
  • Make a variety of side dishes like black-eyed pea hummus
  • Add in congee, Chinese dessert soups, Zongzi (Chinese: 糭子), and more!

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How to Cook Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas

pressure cooker black eyed peas

Here are the ingredients for cooking black eyed peas in Instant Pot.

black eyed peas ingredients

Dried Black Eyed Peas: With this Instant Pot black eyed peas no soak recipe, you don’t need to presoak your dried black eyed peas!

Smoked Ham Hock: We developed this easy black eyed peas Instant Pot recipe with a smoked pork hock. But you can substitute it with leftover ham, smoked ham, ham steaks, or ham bone to make this soup. Cook the ham with the beans, so the ham can impart flavors to the soup. If you’re using honey baked ham, keep in mind it’ll add some sweetness to the soup.

Unsalted Chicken Stock: We develop recipes with unsalted ingredients so we can better control the flavors. If you’re substituting it with salted chicken stock, keep in mind that the sodium level can vary a lot between different brands. Always taste and adjust accordingly.

Cayenne Pepper: Add it if you like your Instant Pot black eyed pea soup to be a little spicy.

Collard Greens or Kale: You can omit the greens from the black eyed peas and ham soup if you like. It’ll still be tasty!

Tools for Black Eyed Peas Instant Pot Recipe

Note: You can also make this pressure cooker black eyed peas recipe with your Ninja Foodi pressure cooker, Power pressure cooker, or other pressure cookers.

Step 1

Prepare Ingredients

prepare ingredients

Rinse the dried black eyed peas under cold running water, then drain well. No need to soak the beans!

rinse black eyed peas

Cut the pork hock into smaller pieces because we’re using a relatively short pressure cooking time.

Amy + Jacky’s Tips! Cutting the pork hock will add more flavor to the black eyed pea soup. The pork hock will also come out more tender. Be careful and avoid cutting into the pork bone.

cut pork hock

Amy + Jacky’s Notes. Always use a separate chopping board for vegetables unless they’re going to be thoroughly cooked.
Step 2

Brown Tomatoes and Onions in Instant Pot

Use “Sauté More” function to heat up the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker. It’ll switch to “ON” on the screen.

Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Saute More

Amy + Jacky’s Tips! You can prepare the remaining ingredients during the preheating and browning processes.

Wait until it says “HOT” on the screen (takes roughly 8 minutes).

Note: Make sure the Instant Pot is as hot as it can be to induce a Maillard reaction.

Add 1 to 2 tablespoons (15ml – 30ml) olive oil in Instant Pot’s inner pot. Ensure the whole bottom is coated with olive oil.

Add quartered tomatoes and sliced onions in Instant Pot, then saute for 4 to 5 minutes.

brown tomatoes

Step 3

Saute Spice and Garlic

Amy + Jacky’s Notes: Your Instant Pot’s inner pot should look quite brown. Don’t worry! Your pot didn’t burn, those caramelized brown bits will add yummy flavors to your black eyed pea soup.

Add 6 crushed garlic cloves, 2 bay leaves, 1 teaspoon (5ml) tomato paste, 1 teaspoon (1g) dried thyme, 1 teaspoon (3g) smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon (1.5g) ground cumin, and ½ teaspoon (0.6g) cayenne pepper in Instant Pot. Saute for another minute until fragrant.

saute spices and garlic

Step 4

Deglaze Instant Pot

Pour 1 cup (250ml) unsalted chicken stock in Instant Pot, then deglaze by scrubbing all the flavorful brown bits off the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon.

Give it a quick mix.

deglaze Instant Pot

Step 5

Pressure Cook Black Eyed Peas

Add ½ teaspoon (3g) fine salt and the remaining (4.5 cups or 1125ml) unsalted chicken stock in Instant Pot, then give it a quick stir.

Then, add pork hock pieces (including the bone) in Instant Pot.

pork hock in Instant Pot

Add 1 pound (454g) black eyed peas in Instant Pot, then make sure they’re fully submerged in the cooking liquid.

black eyed peas in Instant Pot

Collard Greens: If you’re using collard greens, add them into the Instant Pot at this step.

Kale: If you’re using kale, don’t add them at this step. We’ll add them after pressure cooking black eyed peas.

With Venting Knob in Venting Position, close the lid, then turn Venting Knob to Sealing Position.

Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas Cooking Time:

  • For Black Eyed Peas With a Bit of Chew: Pressure Cook at High Pressure for 12 minutes, then Natural Release for 15 minutes
  • For Tender Black Eyed Peas: Pressure Cook at High Pressure for 14 minutes, then Natural Release for 20 minutes

Instant Pot Pressure Cooker High Pressure 12 minutes

After 15 or 20 minutes, release the remaining pressure by turning Venting Knob to Venting Position.

When Floating Valve drops, open the lid carefully.

Step 6

Season & Thicken Black Eyed Pea Soup

Press the “Saute” button, then bring the black eyed peas in Instant Pot back to a full boil.

instant pot black eyed peas and ham

Stir with a ladle to thicken the black eyed pea soup in Instant Pot.

Amy + Jacky’s Tips! The longer you boil the soup, the thicker it’ll become. The soup will thicken a bit as well once it chills to serving temperature. So, if you prefer serving the black eyed peas as a stew, boil the soup for a longer time. 

Add the kale in Instant Pot, then let the black eyed pea soup boil for 3 to 4 minutes.

black eyed peas soup

Taste the black eyed peas, then adjust the seasoning with more salt and black pepper.

Amy + Jacky’s Tips! We used 4 pinches of salt to properly season the Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas and Ham.
Step 7

Serve Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas

black eyed peas in Instant Pot

Ta da! You can serve and enjoy your deliciously hearty pressure cooker black eyed peas!

black eyed peas Amy + Jacky

What to serve with Black Eyed Peas

Black eyed peas are often eaten with cabbage, collard greens, turnip, mustard greens, or ham.

As for New Year’s day in the United States, many enjoy the tradition of eating black eyed peas and greens with some tasty cornbread, biscuits, or rice.

Here are some tasty recipes that go well with Black Eyed Pea Soup:

Main dishes like Instant Pot Short Ribs, Instant Pot Pot Roast, Instant Pot Jambalaya, Instant Pot Gumbo, Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers, or chicken dishes.

Side dishes like salads, fried okra, Instant Pot Mac and Cheese, Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes, Instant Pot Baked Potatoes, Instant Pot Green Beans, polenta, grits, or Instant Pot Corn on the Cob.

Bread, Sandwiches, Crackers: You can also serve this healthy black eyed pea soup with bread like easy no knead bread, French baguettes, sourdough, toasted garlic bread, dinner rolls, croutons, or saltine crackers.

Enjoy your flavorful Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas!

5 from 32 votes

Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas

Author: Amy + Jacky
Easy no soak recipe on how to cook Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas. Flavorful hearty soup packed with creamy beans with greens and tender ham. Comforting and nutritious soup not just for New Year's Day!
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Servings 4 - 6
Total Time 55 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 1 pound (454g) dried black eyed peas , rinsed and drained
  • 1.5 - 2 pounds (680g - 907g) smoked ham hock , cut
  • 1 - 2 tablespoons (15ml - 30ml) olive oil
  • 3 (230g) roma tomatoes , quartered
  • 1 (260g) onion , sliced
  • 6 cloves (25g) garlic , crushed
  • 2 (0.2g) bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon (5ml) tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon (1g) dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon (3g) smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon (1.5g) ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon (0.6g) cayenne pepper (if you like it a bit spicy)
  • 5.5 cups (1375ml) unsalted chicken stock
  • ½ teaspoon (3g) fine salt or table salt
  • 2 cups (90g) green collards or kale , chopped
  • Black pepper and salt to taste

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Instructions 

  • Prepare Ingredients: Rinse the black eyed peas under cold running water, then drain well. Cut the pork hock into smaller pieces.
  • Brown Tomatoes and Onions in Instant Pot: Use "Sauté More" function to heat up Instant Pot. Wait until it says "HOT" on the screen (~8mins).
    Add 1 - 2 tbsp (15ml - 30ml) olive oil in Instant Pot. Ensure the whole bottom is coated with olive oil. Add in quartered tomatoes and sliced onion, then saute for 4 - 5 minutes.
  • Saute Spice and Garlic: Add in 6 crushed garlic cloves, 2 bay leaves, 1 tsp (5ml) tomato paste, 1 tsp (1g) dried thyme, 1 tsp (3g) smoked paprika, ½ tsp (1.5g) ground cumin, and ½ tsp (0.6g) cayenne pepper. Saute for another minute until fragrant.
  • Deglaze Instant Pot: Pour 1 cup (250ml) unsalted chicken stock in Instant Pot, then deglaze by scrubbing all the flavorful brown bits off the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Give it a quick mix.
  • Pressure Cook Black Eyed Peas: Add in ½ tsp (3g) fine salt and remaining (4.5 cups or 1125ml) unsalted chicken stock, then give it a quick stir. Add in pork hock pieces (including the bone). Add in 1lb (454g) black eyed peas, and make sure they're fully submerged in the cooking liquid.
    If you're using green collards, add them in here. (If you're using Kale, don't add them yet).
    Close lid, then turn Venting Knob to Sealing position.
    1. For Beans With a Bit of Chew: Pressure Cook at High Pressure for 12 minutes, then Natural Release for 15 minutes.
    2. For Tender Beans: Pressure Cook at High Pressure for 14 minutes, then Natural Release for 20 minutes.
    Open the lid carefully.
  • Season & Thicken Soup: Press "Saute" button to bring it back to a full boil. Stir with a ladle to thicken the soup.
    *Note: The longer you boil the soup, the thicker it will be. The soup will also thicken a bit once chilled to serving temperature.
    Add in kale, then let it boil for 3 - 4 minutes.
    Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt and black pepper. (For reference: we added 4 pinches of salt to season properly).
  • Serve: You can serve this deliciously hearty Black Eyed Peas Soup with cornbread! Enjoy~

Notes

1) Smoked Ham Hock: You can substitute it with leftover ham, smoked ham, ham steaks, or ham bone to make this soup. Cook the ham with the beans, so the soup will be more flavorful. If you’re using honey baked ham, keep in mind it’ll add some sweetness to the soup.
  • Cutting the pork hock will add more flavor to the soup. The pork hock will also come out more tender. Be careful and avoid cutting into the pork bone.
2) Unsalted Chicken Stock: We develop recipes with unsalted ingredients so we can better control the flavors. If you’re substituting it with salted chicken stock, keep in mind that the sodium level can vary a lot between different brands. Always taste and adjust accordingly.
3) Cayenne Pepper: Add it if you like your soup to be a little spicy.
4) Collard Greens or Kale: You can omit the greens if you like, it’ll still be tasty!
Rate Amy + Jacky's Recipe: If you've tried our recipe, don't forget to rate the recipe in the Comments section. Thank you!
Calories: 474kcal
Course: Soup, Stew
Cuisine: American
Keyword: black eyed peas instant pot, black eyed peas recipe, black eyed peas recipe instant pot, instant pot black eyed peas, instant pot black eyed peas and ham, pressure cooker black eyed peas

Nutrition

Calories: 474kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 308mg | Potassium: 1015mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 2811IU | Vitamin C: 37mg | Calcium: 102mg | Iron: 5mg
instant pot black eyed peas | black eyed peas instant pot | black eyed peas and ham | pressure cooker black eyed peas
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