How to Cook Purple Hull Peas – Our Easy Recipe

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In the South, the smell of simmering purple hull peas shouts out that summer’s here. They’re a hearty meal rich in protein and vitamins. Our family cherishes these legumes, making them a big part of our meals. Today, we’re sharing an easy way to make them just right, no matter their form.

Purple hull peas are a must in Southern cooking. Loved for their flavorful nutrients and the fond memories they bring. This guide will show you how to cook and season them perfectly. We’ll cover cooking methods like stovetop, Instant Pot, and crockpot. Plus, we dive into their history, serving ideas, and how to keep and reheat leftovers.

Key Takeaways

• Purple hull peas are a rich source of protein, vitamins, folic acid, and minerals, with a very low-fat content.
• Fresh purple hull peas can be found at farmers markets in the summer or early fall, while frozen varieties are available year-round.
• Our easy recipe provides instructions for cooking purple hull peas on the stovetop, in an Instant Pot, or in a slow cooker.
• Purple hull peas are a cherished Southern staple, often served with traditional side dishes and cornbread.
• Leftover purple hull peas can be stored in the refrigerator or frozen for easy reheating and repurposing.

Introduction to Purple Hull Peas

Purple hull peas grow well in sandy soil with little water. Their pods range from light purple to deep burgundy when ripe. This legume was first grown in Africa and brought to the Southern U.S. during the time of slavery, between the 17th and 19th centuries. Since then, it has blended into Southern cooking, often used in various dishes like soups and stews.

What are Purple Hull Peas?

Purple hull peas, also called pink-eyed peas, are a variety of cowpea. They come in pods that change from light purple to deep burgundy. Inside, you’ll find cream-colored seeds with a pinkish-purple “eye”.

The History and Origins of Purple Hull Peas

In Africa, the purple hull pea began. Later, it was brought to the South of the U.S. when people were enslaved, from the 17th to the 19th century. This legume soon became a key part of Southern dishes. You can find it in many meals, from soups to stews.

Nutritional Benefits of Purple Hull Peas

These peas are packed with protein, vitamins, and minerals. They’re low in fat and considered very healthy. According to the USDA, a 1-cup cooked serving has 182 calories, with 9g of fat, 18g of carbs, and 8g of protein. They’re also high in dietary fiber, potassium, and iron.

Preparing Fresh or Frozen Purple Hull Peas

When cooking purple hull peas, you can use fresh or frozen ones. You might find fresh peas at local markets in summer or fall. If not, frozen peas are a great year-round option at the grocery store.

Selecting Fresh Purple Hull Peas

Finding fresh purple hull peas is lucky. To pick the best, look for plump and firm pods without blemishes. Squeeze gently to check the peas are tender but not too ripe. Avoid dry or shriveled pods. After picking, be sure to shell and rinse them before cooking.

Blanching and Freezing Fresh Peas

Blanching helps keep the color, taste, and texture of fresh peas when freezing. After shelling, remove any debris from the peas. Rinse them in cool water. Boil water in a pot, then add the peas for 2-3 minutes. Next, put them in an ice water bath. After they cool, drain and dry them. Put the peas in bags or containers to freeze for up to 6 months.

Ingredients for Our Easy Purple Hull Pea Recipe

The main stars of our recipe are the purple hull peas. They come in fresh, frozen, or dried varieties, each adding a special taste and texture.

Purple Hull Peas

To make our dish tastier, we’re including a smoked ham hock. But, you can also use smoked pork like bacon, ham, or smoked turkey.

Smoked Meat for Flavor

For a great smell and taste, we’ll use onion, garlic, chicken stock, kosher salt, and black pepper. We start by sautéing the onions in olive oil or bacon grease.

Aromatics and Seasonings

A pile of fresh purple hull peas in their pods next to a rustic wooden bowl filled with diced onions and garlic. A few sprigs of thyme and a halved jalapeno pepper lay on top of the vegetables. In the background, blurred images of a tomato and bell pepper can be seen.

How to Cook Purple Hull Peas

Getting purple hull peas just right is easy with three ways to cook them. You can use a stovetop, an Instant Pot, or a slow cooker. Each method makes these peas taste great, whether you’re having them as a side or adding them to your favorite dishes.

Stovetop Method

To cook purple hull peas on the stovetop, start with sautéed onions in olive oil or bacon grease. Then add the peas, smoked meat, chicken stock, and seasonings. Let it all boil and then simmer for 20-30 minutes. You’ll have incredibly tender peas with rich, blended flavors.

Instant Pot Method

For cooking purple hull peas in the Instant Pot, begin by sautéing onions to bring out their sweetness. Mix in the peas, smoked meat, stock, and seasonings. Pressure cook for 15-20 minutes. This quick method makes amazingly tasty peas with little work.

Slow Cooker Method

The slow cooker method for purple hull peas is also great. Put the peas, onion, smoked meat, stock, and seasonings in the slow cooker. Let them cook on low for 6-8 hours. This longer cook time creates a dish full of deep, comforting flavors.

Whichever way you choose to cook them, you’ll get flavorful, soft purple hull peas. They’re a fantastic dish on their own or in many Southern recipes.

Common Mistakes & Tips:

Common Mistakes:

• Not rinsing/sorting peas before cooking
• Overcooking peas until mushy
• Not simmering peas slowly enough
• Skimping on seasoning/salt

Tips to Avoid Mistakes:

• Thoroughly rinse shelled peas to remove debris
• Pick through peas and discard any blemished ones
• Allow peas to gently simmer rather than boil rapidly
• Be generous with seasoning blend of salt, pepper, smoked meat
• Start with less liquid and add broth as needed while simmering

Helpful Tips for Baking Success

• Use fresh purple hull peas when available for best flavor and texture
• Don’t rush the low, slow simmer – this develops the signature creamy texture
• Add smoky ham, turkey wings or bacon for incredible depth of flavor
• Finish with butter or cream for extra richness
• Don’t forget to enjoy the flavorful pot likker (cooking broth)

Variations and Recipe Tips

Our easy purple hull pea recipe is great for both vegetarians and vegans too. Just skip the smoked meat. Instead, use vegetable broth. It’ll turn into a tasty vegetarian and vegan purple hull pea dish. Don’t forget to include more veggies like okra, tomatoes, or peppers for a fun twist.

Want to jazz up your dish? Add some hot sauce, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, or jalapeños to make it spicy. Or, for a nice smell, try out bay leaves, thyme, or smoked paprika. These additions will take your purple hull pea recipe up a notch.

Using these seasoning suggestions for purple hull peas lets you make the flavors yours. You’ll end up with a dish that’s special and loved by everyone.

Serving Suggestions and Side Dishes

We love to serve delicious purple hull peas with classic Southern sides. This includes mac and cheese, potato salad, creamed corn, squash casserole, fried green tomatoes, and more. You can also pair purple hull peas with fried chicken, oysters, and ribs.

Traditional Southern Sides

In the South, purple hull peas go with soul food and comfort sides. These sides help soak up the peas’ juices and add variety to the meal. Try them with cornbread or hoe cakes for a tasty combination.

Cornbread Pairings

A true Southern meal with purple hull peas needs cornbread. There’s fluffy Southern-style, classic cornbread, or crispy hoe cakes. Cornbread is perfect for sopping up all those pea flavors. The mix of its sweetness and the peas’ creaminess is wonderful.

Purple Hull Peas vs Black-Eyed Peas

Purple hull peas and black-eyed peas come from the same family, but they look different. When opened, purple hull peas have cream seeds with a pink “eye.” Black-eyed peas, on the other hand, have white seeds with a dark eye. Even though they look different, you can use them in similar ways in cooking.

Black-eyed peas are more common and easy to find. They can be bought dried, frozen, or canned all year. On the flip side, you might only see fresh purple hull peas at farmers’ markets in summer and fall, depending on where you live. But, you can buy frozen purple hull peas in many stores, offering another option.

Characteristic	Purple Hull Peas	Black-Eyed Peas
Seed Color	Cream-colored with a purplish-pink “eye”	White with a dark brown/blackish eye
Availability	Fresh peas available seasonally, frozen peas available year-round	Available year-round in dried, frozen, and canned forms
Perception	Often perceived as creamier, smoother, and more delicious than black-eyed peas	Generally more widely known and commonly used in recipes
Ratings	Purple hull peas have received a rating of 4.06 out of 5 from 37 votes	No specific rating data provided
Nutrition	Nutrient-dense, with a rich source of protein, vitamins, and minerals	Nutritional profile similar to purple hull peas, with 139 calories, 2g fat, 23g carbs, and 9g protein per 1/2 cup serving

So, black-eyed peas and purple hull peas have similarities and differences. You can switch them in recipes, but they stand out in their own ways. For a richer taste, you might like purple hull peas more. They’re both healthy and a tasty choice for meals inspired by the South.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

You can keep leftover purple hull peas in the fridge covered for up to 4 days. Or, freeze them for later for up to 3 months. To reheat, use the microwave or a saucepan. They’re also great for adding to soups, stews, or other meals to refresh them.

Need to know how to store purple hull peas and how to reheat purple hull pea leftovers? We’ve got the answers. With the right storage and reheating, your peas will stay tasty and fresh. This works even a few days after being in the fridge or out the freezer.

Storage Method	Shelf Life
Refrigerated, covered	Up to 4 days
Frozen	Up to 3 months

Reheating purple hull pea leftovers is easy. Use the microwave or a saucepan. You can also mix the peas up with other dishes, such as soups or stews. This makes it simple to refresh and reuse any extra peas. With these tips, your purple hull peas will keep delighting your taste buds.

Purple Hull Pea Nutrition Facts

Purple hull peas are not only tasty but they’re also packed with good things like protein, vitamins, folic acid, and minerals. They are low in fat, which makes them a smart pick for your meals. A one-cup serving of cooked purple hull peas has 182 calories, 9g of fat, 18g of carbs, and 8g of protein. They’re a great source of fiber, potassium, and iron too.

Adding purple hull peas to your meals can benefit your health. These legumes are common in the South and add a lot of flavor and nutrients. They are perfect for both vegetarians and those who eat meat. You can enjoy them in many ways, like in a stew, salad, or as a side. Purple hull peas are good for you and taste great.

Nutrient	Amount per 1-cup Serving
Calories	182
Total Fat	9g
Carbohydrates	18g
Protein	8g
Dietary Fiber	8g
Potassium	398mg
Iron	2mg

If you’re looking to get more essential vitamins, minerals, and protein in your diet, try purple hull peas. You can use fresh, frozen, or dried peas in many recipes inspired by the South. They’re not just nutritious; they taste good too.

Where to Buy Purple Hull Peas

Looking for purple hull peas? Check local farmers markets in summer and early fall. They might also be in some grocery stores. If fresh ones are hard to find, look for frozen peas at the supermarket year-round.

Frozen purple hull peas taste a lot like fresh ones. They’re a great option if you can’t find the fresh kind. Plus, they work well in many recipes and offer the same good stuff for your health.

Whether fresh or frozen, purple hull peas add something special to your meals. They have a smooth feel and are cooked with tasty pork broth. These peas are a favorite in the South. Keep searching and you’ll find them to make your cooking even better.

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