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This Easy Black-Eyed Pea Salad is perfect for New Year's - but will also bring rave reviews at picnics, potlucks and family get-togethers!
This fresh, delicious and Easy Black-Eyed Pea Salad is just one more proof that this little Carolina cook is a tried and true southern girl.
Although we hadn't moved to a foreign country, Scott and I had a bit of culture shock when we relocated, back in 80's, from Wisconsin to North Carolina. There were so many different ways of doing things, saying things and a zillion crazy things those southern folks ate. The flour was different, barbecue was vinegar-based, kids drank sweet tea instead of milk (horrors for a Dairy State girl) and the variety of peas and beans had my head spinning. That's just to mention a few of the anomalies (to us) we encountered.
Black-eyed peas a "must" for New Year's
Let's just say we felt a little out of place, and when New Year's rolled around that first year, there were more strange things to learn. "I'm fixin' a new black-eyed pea recipe for New Year's". "We're going to mama's for New Year's - can't wait for her black-eyed peas". "Did you get your black-eyed peas for New Year's yet?" What???
I quickly learned that eating black-eyed peas for New Year's was a legendary tradition that dated back to the Civil War. The story's told that, during General Sherman's March in 1864, the Union Army raided the Confederates' food supplies but left peas and pork. They thought these rations were for the animals rather than for human consumption. Those supplies ended up as the very thing that got the Southern soldiers through that cold, rough winter. Hence black-eyed peas evolved over the years into a representation of good luck.
Although I'm not a believer in luck, I love culinary history and have joined my Southern brethren in enjoying black-eyed peas as a New Year's tradition. I guess there would be those who would say I'm not a bonafide southerner since I don't serve the customary black-eyed peas cooked for hours with fatback and collard greens; or in a rice dish called Hoppin' John. Instead, each year I enjoy coming up with a simple and healthier way to carry on the New Year's black-eyed pea tradition.
This year's version is an easy black-eyed pea salad with lots of rainbow-hued veggies, all tied together with a super fresh lime-cilantro dressing. It's the kind of fresh, healthy salad you'll find yourself craving and it's perfect, on its own or as a side to sandwiches, soups and entrees.
A bonus with this salad is that it also makes a delicious dip or salsa served with chips or pita. The recipe makes a large batch, but you'll find it will go fast. If there is any leftover salad, it will make wonderful lunches and quick, healthy snacks.
What will you need to make this Easy Black-Eyed Pea Salad? Nothing out of the ordinary. Grab a few cans of black-eyed peas at the grocery store. You'll also need one can of corn (see notes below) and a jar of roasted red peppers. Throw a red onion, a bunch of cilantro, a mango, an English (seedless) cucumber and a bag of limes in your cart as well and you'll be good to go!
Making the salad is as easy as opening a few cans, doing a bit of chopping and mixing up the super simple dressing. Give the salad a few hours in the fridge before serving and then enjoy. I'm not promising this Easy Black-Eyed Pea Salad will bring the legendary southern-style good luck, but this southern girl does promise lots of rave reviews.
Café Tips for making this Easy Black-Eyed Pea Salad
- This Easy Black-Eyed Pea Salad is super versatile. Don't like corn? Skip it. Love corn? Add two cans. Don't care for cilantro? Use fresh basil instead. Can't find a ripe mango? No worries, the salad will still be delicious. Tailor the recipe to your likes and the availability of ingredients. Just don't skip the black-eyed peas or you'll have to change the name. But hey, that's not such a bad idea. I like the idea of "Easy Cannellini Bean Salad", how about you?
- If you've never purchased canned black-eyed peas you find them in the same section as the canned beans (kidney, garbanzo, Great Northern, etc.). Even though they're called "peas", they're actually a bean.
- Don't think this salad is only a New Year's dish, it will be a wonderful year round for family meals as well as large group get-togethers.
- The recipe makes a large batch, but leftovers will keep well.
- This Easy Black-Eyed Pea Salad can be made a day or two in advance. Combine the black-eyed peas and corn with the dressing but keep the other ingredients separate until a few hours before serving. Then combine everything to allow the flavors to marry and meld.
- The only thing that takes a bit of time when making this Easy Black-Eyed Pea Salad is chopping the veggies. Not for me though! I have a little magic trick that helps me put this salad together in the blink of an eye. If you're a frequent visitor here at The Café, you've probably heard me mention this Vidalia Chop Wizard before. It's truly a little kitchen workhorse! I use mine all the time and it has saved me hours in the kitchen.
- I've never been a huge fan of canned corn till a friend introduced me to this Summer Fresh corn a few years ago. It's the next best thing to fresh corn during these long, cold winter months. The kernels are small and stay nice and crisp. It's carried by just about every larger grocer in the same section as all the other canned corn.
- If you love fresh, delicious chopped salads like this done, I'm quite certain you'll also be a fan of our Chopped Mexican Salad. It's one of our most popular recipes and has been pinned well over a million times!
Scott and I want to wish all of you a happy New Year. Thanks for being such an amazing audience to share our life and recipes with. We'll see you all in 2018 - stay tuned for lots of new recipes, tips and stories.
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Easy Black-Eyed Pea Salad
Ingredients
- 2 15.5- ounce cans black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
- 1 11- ounce can crisp canned corn, rinsed and drained (see Café Tips above)
- 1 large roasted red pepper, finely diced
- 1 medium English, seedless cucumbers, finely diced
- 1 medium mango, finely diced (about 1 cup)
- ½ medium red onion, finely diced
- zest of 2 medium limes
- ½ cup fresh lime juice, 3-4 medium sized limes
- 1 ½ tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sugar, more to taste
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, more to taste
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¾ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Combine black-eyed peas, corn, chopped roasted red pepper, cucumber, mango, red onion and half of the cilantro in a large bowl.
- Combine fresh lime zest and juice, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Stir well to dissolved sugar. Pour over black-eyed pea mixture and stir well. Taste and add more sugar and/or salt, if needed.
- Refrigerate for 2-3 hours then garnish with remaining cilantro just before serving.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
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I would love to make this delicious salad using the "Summer Fresh Corn" you suggested (since I am not a big fan of canned vegetables but certainly trust you!). The Amazon link is no longer valid. What is the brand and specific name of the canned corn you are suggesting? Thank so much!
Hi Judy, I'm like you and don't care for a lot of canned veggies but I do love this corn in soups and salads. It's super tender and sweet. Here is the link: https://amzn.to/3ZKL0u2
hi chris, was reading your recipe on the black eyed pea salad, it looks so good, will have to make it soon. but as a pure, homegrown and born Southerner, I ADORE black eyed peas! growing up in VA that was our Southern tradition to have them, cooked with country ham, on new years day for good luck, still do to this day in my 70s! I now live in NC and have for over 20 yrs and still do it....the Southern fruitcake, homemade eggnog from scratch (grew up on it too with the bourbon in it, lol); had many traditions - mother was from PA dutch, father from South....so we ate good, lol. glad to have ya in our neck of the woods, enjoy all our Southern traditions....
Thanks, Sue!
Received your e-mail for this salad on Dec 30th and after all the December treats, I craved something fresh and healthy. I just made it for lunch today and it’s exactly how I imagined it …. Soooo fresh and full of flavours. Thank you for another wonderful recipe.
Louise in New Brunswick
I'm so glad, Louise! Thank you for letting us know!
Wow, the colors and flavors are superb. It was very easy to throw together and healthy. I did reduce the amount because it’s only myself and my daughter. We still have leftovers for the next day.
This is a keeper.
Yay! Thanks for letting us know, Elaine!
Did not know that the Southern folks had mangoes to launch row and all the other exotic ingredients during the Civil War unless they were the Plantation owners! Sorry but this is not a true Southern recipe.
Haha! You're so right, Rbgard! This is just a chef's modern-day interpretation. There are as many black-eyed peas recipes these days as there are pound cake recipes in the south. You might want to try it, though, it is really delicious!
I just made this today. I have been procrastinating for Lord knows how long & I finally did. Even my picky son who loves & lives off of pizza, sandwiches, hamburgers & chicken wings (he's 30, so go figure) loved it. Thank you very much for posting it. I will be making this frequently.
I'm so glad, Karen! Thanks for sharing your results 🙂
Hi there! Love, love, love this salad! It keeps really good too. My question is if you think I can can it in Mason jars just as I would can jams or veggies? Would save time when company shows & to give as gifts..... Thanks for your great recipes!
Hi Lise, I think you probably could can this but some of the fresh flavor and color would be lost.
Thank you Chis! I'll give it a try with 1 jar & see what happens. Thanks so much! Lise
I've frozen it and it is still delicious when thawed. Does lose some color and texture.
Hello!
What about pineapple in place of mango? I don’t feel like going to the store😂
Haha! I get it! I think pineapple would be wonderful. Just be sure to drain it well.
I like to use what I have on hand and avoid additional trips to the store, whenever possible. I've used frozen Mango and subbed in frozen peaches. both were good. Apples would be good, as well. Also have used celery in place of cucumber. Also, cider vinegar works. All variations of this have turned out well.
Thank you, Dawn! You're renditions sound wonderful!
I tried this recipe Dec 31st 2019 , delicious and colourful !!!! When do you combine the red onion? (Not in the instructions)
Thanks, Mary Lou! I've added the red onion to the instructions!
No oil in the dressing? Is that correct?
That is correct Nancy, it's a simple, fresh dressing.
Served to four young women, mid-20's, who were visiting for dinner. They loved this salad! The flavors are so fresh and bright and all blended together so well. Happily, I got the leftovers! I had never purchased black-eyed peas before and was surprised at how much I liked them. A keeper of a recipe. Worth the chopping time.
Thanks for sharing your results, Linda Jean! So happy everyone enjoyed this salad!
Roasted red pepper - is this a fresh pepper that you roast or buy a jar of roasted red peppers and chop up one of the largest pieces? Based on the appearance of the salad and your comments about substitutions, I'm guessing I could just go with a fresh red pepper. I have seen people blacken a red pepper over a gas flame, then bag and cool but I've never done it. I'm pulling this recipe and the tomato cucumber salad recipe to make for dinner on Saturday. I'm a better baker than salad maker!
Hi Linda Jean, I'm referring to a jar of roasted red peppers. You can usually find them in the canned vegetable section of most larger grocery stores.
It wouldn't feel right for us not to have black-eyed peas for New Years. I've made a salad with them several times and it was a big hit. The next time I make it I will use your recipe and hope that it's as vibrant and picturesque as yours. Happy New Year!
I never new the history behind black eyed peas and pork for the new year, Chris! So interesting! We have friends here in Wisconsin that always make a pork roast for New Year's Day but they grew up in the south. I'll have to see if they know how their tradition came about 🙂
Although I've never made black eyed peas, your salad looks like a delicious celebration to my eyes!
Love black-eyed peas! Such a nice, deep flavor. And they work so well in salads like this. And salad is exactly what I need after all the holiday eating! Thanks! 🙂
A terrific way to start the new year for sure! Love black eyed peas and try to eat them to celebrate the New Years too. This looks and sounds like a great salad Chris. Hope you had a happy holiday season and wish you and Scott a very Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! Love this traditional salad. Need to seek out some black-eyed peas (not sure how easy they are to find here 🙂
Darn, I forgot to pick up some black eyed peas! Your salad is exactly how I want to eat them---love all the yummy flavors!! Happy New Year!!! xo
Black eyed peas are a must in our home every year even though my husband wishes they weren't. I think he would like your salad thought... the corn might get him to give it a try. 😀
How very colourful and tasty! Happy New Year, Chris, Scott!
Thanks, Angie! Happy New Year to you!
So colorful and pretty! And now I know the story of WHY! I have never heard this, and it sure delighted me. We are going to look for that summer corn, I had no idea! Are you sure that you aren't a chef? you know everything about food!