Beans | Cooking | Sides | Southern Classics
Purple Hull Peas a.k.a Fresh Blackeyes
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I love my farmers market. I really, really do. It’s just a small little thing that operates 3 times a week during the prime growing season by our local farmers – but I always come out with way more than I ever did living in bigger towns. This is what I came out with in my last trip.
As you can see, I got white potatoes, sweet potatoes, yellow squash, okra, cabbage, green & red bell peppers, purple hull peas, cherry tomatoes, brandy wine tomatoes, & strawberry fig preserves (oh, and 13 ears of corn!). And the best part? I paid less than $15 for everything & it all was grown within the same county that I live in. Just love it!
The purple hull peas in the Ziploc baggie in the photo were in the hull when I bought them..but the girls & I had already shelled them before this photo was taken. My girls love shellin’ some peas!
Little man was happy to sit & watch 🙂
After we shelled all those peas, I just plopped them into a Ziploc baggie until dinner. To cook them, I boiled them (in a covered saucepan) for about 15-20 minutes, drained the water off of them, & set them to the side.
Then, I diced up about 6 ounces of bacon & fried it in a pan for a few minutes. Then I added in 1 large diced onion into the yummy bacon grease & let it cook along with the bacon for about 5 minutes.
After that, I simply tossed the cooked peas into the bacon/onion mixture – gave it a good toss..and let it simmer for about 5-10 more minutes. Sprinkle on some salt & pepper, and you’re good to go.
I ate 3 helpings. Sure did. Now, my belly hurts. Oh well – it was worth it.
My Dad had a garden so I grew up on Purple Hull Peas and I never knew they were the same thing as Black Eyes. No wonder I like Black eyes , but of course as with anything fresh they don’t begin to compare with the Purple Hulls. Thanks for the recipe my Mom has now passed and I didn’t know how to cook them. You have brought back many “shelling pea memories” I have as a kid!
Yes the other commenter is right black eyes and purple hulls are “cousins” but Purple Hulls are so much tastier