Black Eyed Pea Salad

Healthy and dressed with a zingy vinaigrette, a black eyed pea salad is packed with protein, fiber and nutrients. Featuring the distinctive looking bean, it makes for a veggie-forward dish at home and is easy to up the amount of ingredients for a bigger batch. Take it for a potluck or picnic. It’s as colorful as it is easy to whip together and it can play double duty as a side dish for nibbling or the main course.

Black Eyed Pea Salad Ingredients

• Black-eyed peas: Black-eyed peas are a type of bean that have a creamy texture and nutty flavor.
• Grape tomatoes: Acidic and sweet grape tomatoes add juicy bursts throughout the salad.
• Green, yellow and red peppers: These peppers add sweetness and crunch to the dish.
• Red onion: The savory crunchiness of raw red onion helps provide depth.
• Celery rib: Another source of crunch with a mild flavor.
• Fresh basil: Everything’s better with herbs. Fresh basil elevates and brightens the dish.
• Red wine vinegar: This is the base of a light vinaigrette. You can also use balsamic vinegar.
• Stone-ground mustard: This tangy and spicy mustard makes the dressing a little more robust.
• Oregano: You can use fresh or dried oregano; the herb provides a little more complexity to your dressing.

Directions

Step 1: Combine your salad ingredients

In a large bowl, combine the black eyed peas, tomatoes, peppers, onion, celery and basil.

Editor’s tip: If you’re using dried black eyed peas make sure to cook them beforehand.

Step 2: Make the dressing and prepare the salad

Whisk the vinegar, mustard, oregano, salt and pepper together in a small bowl. Gradually whisk in the oil until it’s blended. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate the salad for at least three hours before serving.

Black Eyed Pea Salad Variations

• Get spicy: Add some chopped jalapeño for a little more heat. The spiciest parts of the pepper are the veins and the seeds so remove those to moderate the intensity.
• Roast your peppers: Opt for roasted red pepper instead of chopped fresh pepper to vary your textures and add smokier and sweeter notes.
• Add protein: Make this dish even more filling and protein-dense by adding your meat of choice on top. We like using grilled chicken breast to ensure the salad flavors stay most prominent.

How to Store Black Eyed Pea Salad

Store your black-eyed peas salad in the fridge for up to four days in an airtight container. We wouldn’t recommend freezing it because the textures will change—it tastes much better fresh!

Can you make black eyed pea salad recipe ahead of time?

Yes, and we recommend that you do. The flavors taste better after several hours marinating in the fridge, and even better after you leave it in there overnight.

Black Eyed Pea Salad Tips

How can I serve black eye pea salad?

Along with treating this as a main meal or a side, you can also treat it like a dip or serve your black eyed peas salad on toast. If you’re heading to a picnic you could put servings into individual containers for ease.

Should I soak my black eyed peas?

Yes. If you’re using dried black eyed peas, soak them for about an hour prior to cooking to help make them easier to digest and shorten the cooking time.

Are black eyed peas beans?

Yes black eyed peas are a type of bean despite their name. So, if you don’t have any on hand and are looking for a substitute, you’ll want to opt for a bean with a similar flavor and/or texture, like a white bean or a chickpea.