Emilie Meyer
Dried field peas can be cooked in a crock pot in several ways, with or without meat. While it is not necessary to soak the peas, some recipes recommend doing so to reduce cooking time. The peas can be soaked overnight or quickly by boiling for two minutes and then left for two hours. After discarding the soaking water, the peas can be cooked in the crock pot with various combinations of ingredients such as country ham, chicken broth, onion, garlic, liquid smoke, mustard, bay leaf, and bell peppers. The cooking time varies depending on the recipe, but it typically ranges from four to seven hours on high heat or six to ten hours on low heat.
How to cook dried field peas in a crock pot
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Soaking | Not necessary but can be soaked overnight or for a quick soak, boiled for 2 minutes and left for 2 hours |
| Stove-top alternative | Simmer and cook for 45 minutes to 1 hour, uncovered |
| Ingredients | Black-eyed peas, bell peppers, garlic, onion, liquid smoke, mustard, bay leaf, broth/water, Tabasco, salt, greens, spinach, ham hock, smoked turkey, chicken broth, beef or chicken bouillon cubes, tomatoes, cumin, smoked paprika, Mexican oregano, chilli powder, soy sauce or tamari, Cajun seasoning |
| Cooking time | High for 4-7 hours or low for 6-7 hours |
| Texture | Tender but not mushy |
| Serving suggestion | With cornbread |
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What You'll Learn
Soak peas overnight or use a quick soak method
Soaking dried field peas overnight is a common method to reduce cooking time. To do this, cover the peas with water by about four inches (1.5 cm) in a bowl and let them soak for at least 8 hours. Drain and discard the soaking water before adding the peas to your crock pot.
If you're short on time, you can also use a quick-soak method. Place the peas in a pot and cover them with ample water. Bring the water to a boil and let it boil for 2 minutes, then let the peas sit for two hours. As with the overnight method, discard the soaking water before adding the peas to your crock pot.
While soaking is not necessary, it can help speed up the cooking process, especially if you're in a hurry. If you choose not to soak your peas, simply give them a good rinse and sort through them to remove any stones or dirt before adding them directly to your crock pot.
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Add ingredients like garlic, onion, and broth
Cooking dried field peas in a crock pot is a convenient and tasty way to prepare this legume. While there are many ways to cook dried peas, crock pots are a great option for a simple, less messy cooking method.
To add ingredients like garlic, onion, and broth to your dried field peas in a crock pot, follow these steps:
Firstly, prepare your garlic and onion. For garlic, separate the cloves and peel them. You can adjust the amount of garlic to your taste preferences. For a more intense garlic flavour, you might mince or crush the cloves. If you prefer a milder garlic taste, slicing or leaving the cloves whole will produce a more subtle flavour. For the onion, peel and slice or chop it into your desired size. As with the garlic, the amount of onion you add can be adjusted to your taste.
Next, you can add your garlic and onion to the crock pot. If you are using a slow cooker liner, you can add the ingredients directly into the liner. Otherwise, add them straight into the crock pot itself. You can add other ingredients at this stage, such as bell peppers, chilli, or mushrooms.
Now, it's time to add the broth. You can use either vegetable or chicken broth, depending on your preference. If you are vegetarian or vegan, be sure to use vegetable broth. Measure out the amount of broth required. The quantity will depend on the number of dried field peas you are cooking and whether you soaked them beforehand. For a 6-quart crock pot of unsoaked peas, use 5 cups of broth. If you are using soaked peas, 4 cups of broth will be sufficient.
Finally, give the ingredients a good stir to ensure they are well combined. Place the lid on your crock pot and set the desired temperature and cooking time. Your dried field peas will now cook to tender perfection!
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Cook on high for 4-7 hours or low for 5-10 hours
Cooking dried field peas in a crock pot is a convenient, less messy way to prepare them. The cooking time varies depending on whether you choose to soak the peas beforehand and whether you want to cook them on high or low heat.
If you choose to cook your peas on high heat, the cooking time will be shorter than on low heat. Cooking on high heat for 4-7 hours is generally recommended. If you are in a hurry, you can cook the peas on high heat for a minimum of 4 hours. However, if you prefer a longer cooking time, you can cook them for up to 7 hours.
Cooking dried field peas on low heat in a crock pot is ideal if you want to leave them unattended for a more extended period. The low heat setting allows the peas to cook slowly and gently, ensuring they don't overcook or burn. The recommended cooking time for low heat is 5-10 hours. If you plan to be out for a long day, you can set the crock pot to low and let the peas cook for up to 10 hours.
The exact cooking time may vary depending on factors such as the age of the beans, the specific model of your crock pot, and your preferred texture for the peas. It's important to keep an eye on the peas during the cooking process and adjust the timing as needed to achieve your desired level of doneness.
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Add greens like spinach, kale, or collard greens
When adding greens like spinach, kale, or collard greens to dried field peas in a crock pot, there are a few key steps to follow. Firstly, it is important to wash and prepare the greens. For bagged greens, it is recommended to wash them again, even if they are pre-washed. Remove any large stems and cut the greens into one-inch pieces. For loose leaf greens, a more thorough cleaning may be required. Fill a clean sink with cold water, add the greens, and swish them around for a few minutes. Repeat this process until the greens are clean, then rinse and pat them dry. Remove the tough stems and main veins, and then cut the greens to the desired size.
Once the greens are prepared, you can add them to the crock pot with the dried field peas. The timing of adding the greens will depend on the type of green and your desired level of doneness. For heartier greens like kale or collard greens, add them to the crock pot about 20 minutes before you plan to eat. This will give them enough time to cook and soften, while still retaining some texture. For more delicate greens like spinach, add them at the very end of cooking, just until they are wilted. This will ensure they don't overcook and become mushy.
The specific cooking time for the greens will depend on the recipe you are following for the dried field peas. As a general guideline, collard greens and other tougher greens may take anywhere from 3 to 8 hours to cook on LOW in the crock pot, depending on the desired texture. Softer greens like spinach will require a much shorter cooking time, usually just a few minutes until wilted.
When adding the greens to the crock pot, you can simply layer them on top of the dried field peas. If you are using a slow cooker liner, this will make cleanup easier. You can also add additional ingredients to enhance the flavor of the greens. Onion, garlic, apple cider vinegar, salt, and sugar are all common additions that can be included in the crock pot along with the greens. Smoked meat, such as ham hocks, bacon, or turkey legs, can also be added to impart a smoky flavor to the dish.
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Make it a soup by blending some peas with cooking liquid
To make dried field peas in a crock pot, you can follow the steps below to make a soup by blending some peas with the cooking liquid.
Firstly, decide whether you want to soak your peas or not. Soaking is not necessary, but if you do decide to soak them, you can either do a quick soak by covering the peas in a pot with water, bringing it to a boil, and letting it sit for two hours, or you can soak them overnight in enough water to cover the peas by about four inches. Soaking will slightly reduce your cooking time.
Next, prepare your peas by rinsing and sorting through them to ensure they are free of stones and dirt. If you soaked your peas, make sure to rinse and drain them before adding them to the crock pot.
Add your peas to the crock pot along with your desired ingredients and seasonings. For a soup, you will want to add liquid to the crock pot. You can use water or broth, such as chicken or vegetable broth. You can also add other ingredients such as onions, garlic, bell peppers, tomatoes, and spices. If you want to add meat, you can include ham, bacon, or smoked turkey.
Cook your peas in the crock pot on high for about 4-7 hours or on low for about 6-10 hours, depending on whether your peas are soaked or unsoaked. The peas are ready when they are tender but not mushy.
Finally, to make it a soup, transfer about 2-3 cups of the peas and cooking liquid to a blender and puree the mixture. You can then add this back into the crock pot and stir to combine. Adjust the seasoning to your taste, and serve your soup warm. Enjoy!
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Frequently asked questions
It takes between 4 to 7 hours to cook dried field peas in a crock pot.
Soaking the peas is not necessary, but it will reduce the cooking time slightly. If you want to soak the peas, you can either do it overnight or do a quick soak by putting the peas in a pot, covering them with water, bringing it to a boil, and letting it sit for two hours.
You can add ingredients like garlic, onion, bell peppers, tomatoes, ham, bacon, chicken broth, and various seasonings to dried field peas when cooking them in a crock pot.
The dried field peas are done cooking when they are tender but not mushy.
