Black-eyed Pea Cakes Recipe (2024)

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Delicious savory Black-Eyed Pea Cakes are the perfect Southern-inspired appetizer or side dish.

This week we’re packing up our daughter for her second year in college, and getting our baby ready for his senior year in high school. Our time (and my brain) are stretched a bit too thin so I’ve been updating and cleaning up some older posts to share with you until I get back into my routine cooking schedule.

Our last week or so of summer break has been filled with snagging time in between the washing and packing and more washing to spend time together in our nuclear family unit before all of what the back-to-school schedule brings. This recipe for Black-Eyed Pea Cakes is one of the early recipes shared here back in February 2010. These crispy savory cakes are sneaky good. Let me tell you all about them.

Black-eyed peas and me, we go way back – truly one of my oldest comfort foods. A while back a trip to Grits and Groceries introduced me to Black-Eyed Pea Cakes, and whoa Nellie! Crazy good. They remind me of falafel, only slightly flattened, and better.

I purchased the Grits and Groceries cookbook, as well as a calendar packed with more recipes, but no Black-Eyed Pea Cake recipe to be found. After a quick search online, tons of recipes for this southern dish were found, but I didn’t have all the ingredients for any of the recipes that looked good, especially the one Ezra Pound Cake adapted from Martha Hall Foose’s “Screen Doors and Sweet Tea.” So I did what any southern-black-eyed-pea-lovin girl would do, I improvised, using what we had on hand. I was quite happy with the results. Quite happy indeed. And when served with Comeback Sauce they are out of this world! Be sure to check out our recipe for Comeback Sauce. It’s like our homemade version of Zaxby’s Zax Sauce.

How to MakeBlack-Eyed Pea Cakes

To make these delectable drool-inducing little cakes, begin by warming drained black-eyed peas, while you prep the other ingredients. Saute the onion and garlic together in a little olive oil until softened. In a food processor, pulse about half of the black-eyed peas, bacon, onion, garlic, cilantro, basil, cumin, cayenne, and salt a few times until blended. But not too much! It doesn’t have to be totally smooth.

Transfer mixture to a bowl and stir in the remaining whole black-eyed peas and heavy cream. Chill mixture until cool. This is an essential step. When it cools, the mixture stiffens so cakes can be formed, otherwise you’ll have floppy cakes that will fall apart when battered. And no one wants floppy cakes. That’s another thing I love about this recipe, you can make the mixture a couple of days ahead and refrigerate.

After the mixture has cooled, gently form the cakes and set aside. We made ours about 3-inchesin diameter and 3/4-inches thick, but you can make them smaller if you’d like. Just be sure to adjust cooking time.

Prepare three separate bowls for battering. Flour goes in the first one. Beat an egg with half and half together in the second one, and bread crumbs go in the third one.

Batter the cakes by coating first with flour, then the egg mixture and finish with the bread crumbs, being careful to keep the shape of the cake intact while battering. Set aside after coated.

Line a plate or cooling rack with paper towels ready for cakes when cooked. Prepare the skillet by heating 3-4 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Fry cakes in small batches, cooking approximately 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown. While frying the cake monitor the oil for overheating.

Serve Black-Eyed Pea Cakes with a heaping serving of comeback sauce and be ready for everyone to come back for more!

Black-Eyed Pea Cakes Recipe

Black-eyed Pea Cakes Recipe (7)

Black-Eyed Pea Cakes Recipe

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

A delicious savory dish made with black-eyed peas.

Ingredients

  • 2 (15.8 oz.) cans of black-eyed peas; drained
  • 1 slice of bacon; fried and crumbled
  • 4-8 tablespoons olive oil; divided
  • 1/2 cup onion; chopped
  • 4 cloves of garlic; minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 egg
  • 1/3 cup half and half
  • 2 cups panko or fresh bread crumbs

Instructions

  1. Begin by warming the black-eyed peas, while you prep the other ingredients.
  2. Sauté the onion and garlic together in about 2 tablespoons of olive oil until softened.
  3. Add half of the black-eyed peas (about 1 1/2 cups), bacon, onion, garlic, cilantro, basil, cumin, cayenne, salt to a food processor and pulse a few times until blended. Not too much. It doesn’t need to be totally smooth.
  4. Transfer mixture to a bowl and stir in the remaining black-eyed peas and heavy cream.
  5. Chill the mixture until cool – about an hour or so.
  6. After the mixture has cooled, gently form the cakes and set aside.
  7. Prepare 3 separate bowls for battering. Flour goes in the first one. Then beat an egg and the half and half together in the second one. And the bread crumbs go in the third one.
  8. Batter the cakes by coating first with flour, then the egg mixture and finish with the bread crumbs. Set aside after coated.
  9. Have a plate or cooling rack lined with paper towels ready for cakes when cooked.
  10. Prepare the skillet by heating 3-4 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat.
  11. Fry cakes in small batches, cooking approximately 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown. Be sure to watch the oil for overheating, and, if needed, add additional oil or start with new oil if it gets too dark.
  12. Remove cakes, let cool on paper towel lined plate.
  13. Serve with Comeback Sauce.

Notes

Makes about 8-12 cakes.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Facebook

Originally posted February 2, 2010. Updated August 14, 2015.

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Black-eyed Pea Cakes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do you have to soak fresh black-eyed peas before cooking? ›

You'll need at least six hours to rehydrate the black-eyed peas. Place them in a large bowl and add three cups of water for every one cup of peas. Cover, place in the refrigerator, and let the beans soak for six hours or overnight. Cook your beans low and slow, ideally in a slow cooker.

What does baking soda do to black-eyed peas? ›

Bottom Line. If beans make you uncomfortably gassy, sprinkle a little baking soda into their soaking water. It will reduce the volume of gas produced by the legumes, plus, they will cook quicker. If you're even shorter on time, you may want to try some of our favorite recipes to make with a can of black beans.

Do you put a dime in black-eyed peas? ›

Some families place a dime in the pot of black-eyed peas to symbolize the dish bringing prosperity through coins. Receiving the dime in your serving gives an extra boost of good luck.

How do you jazz up black-eyed peas? ›

Add onion, pepper and garlic and cook about 6 minutes or until vegetables are tender-crisp. Add ham and cook 2 minutes. Simply add the canned black eyed peas, tomatoes, and the other remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer 10 minutes.

What happens if you don't pre soak black-eyed peas? ›

Not soaking the black-eyed peas can slightly impact the texture, as they can take longer to cook and may be slightly firmer compared to soaked ones. However, the taste will remain similar whether you soak them or not.

How many hours do you soak black-eyed peas? ›

Directions. Step 1In a large bowl, cover beans with water by at least 4". Cover and let soak at least 6 hours or up to 12. Step 2 Drain beans and rinse under cold water.

How do you get rid of gas from black-eyed peas? ›

Simply place dried beans in a container, cover them with water and let them soak. They'll need to soak eight to 12 hours, but the key to eliminating the gas is draining and rinsing every three hours. Yup, you read that right. Drain, rinse and start soaking again every three hours.

Why won t my black-eyed peas get soft? ›

Also, make sure to keep adding liquid (broth or water) to the peas as they cook, or they will dry out. The broth/liquid is what breaks them down and makes them tender and flavorful.

How much baking soda do I add to my beans to prevent gas? ›

Usually, you only use 1/4 teaspoon baking soda to a pound of beans. The best way to reduce the problem is simply to eat more beans. People who eat beans regularly have the least trouble digesting them.

Why do Southerners eat black-eyed peas? ›

Often referred to as hoppin' john, black-eyed peas and collard greens are commonly eaten as part of a Southern tradition to bring forth good luck and prosperity in the new year.

Why do you put a penny in black-eyed peas? ›

Other black-eyed peas combos

One unusual but common New Year's Day black-eyed peas tradition involves putting actual money in the dish. Some add to their “luck” by cooking their pot of peas with a penny or dime inside. Whoever gets the bowl with the coin in it, according to legend, has the best luck for the new year.

What does hog jowl mean on new year's? ›

Why Include It for New Year's? Hog jowls are often utilized as a part of the traditional New Year's Day feast to ensure health and wealth in the coming year. Pigs have held this symbolic distinction for a long time, dating back to when having a supply of fatty meat meant survival in cold winters.

What pairs well with black-eyed peas? ›

The best accompaniment to black eyed peas are collard greens. I don't know why but it had to be something about the smoky flavor of the greens with the flavor of the peas. It's an amazing combination.

Can you overcook black-eyed peas? ›

Drain them the next day and bring them to a boil in cold water, then reduce the heat so the water barely simmers: dried black-eyed peas can overcook, and a rolling boil could cause them to break apart. Taste the peas often to check their doneness: They should be creamy but retain their shape.

How do you thicken your black-eyed peas? ›

Smash more of the peas up against the inside of the pot again (this helps the broth thicken). Simmer for 10 minutes more. Check the consistency of the black-eyed peas: If they are not creamy enough for you, smash a few more peas. If the broth is too thick, thin out with a little more water.

How long does it take to cook raw black-eyed peas? ›

Add peas to pot; add broth to go 1" above peas. Add water if more liquid needed. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce to simmer; cook for 2 hours or until peas are tender, adding more broth or water as needed.

How do you eat fresh black-eyed peas? ›

With a creamy texture and mild taste, black-eyed peas can be made into delicious stews, fried patties, or even hearty salads. They're especially popular in the Southern U.S. during New Year's celebrations (thought to bring good luck) and in Caribbean cooking where they're traditionally served in rice.

Do you just boil black-eyed peas? ›

Place 1 cup black eyed peas and 4 cups water in a large pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the beans are tender. This will take about 45 minutes.

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