Harissa Stewed Black-Eyed Peas with Okra and Collard Greens

Comfort Food Season

This time of year is the best time. The convergence of summer and fall veggies makes cooking even more inviting and offers an abundance of variety. I spied plump pumpkins in the fields this week too. The harvest will begin soon. 

There’s a chill in the air. Dramatic gray skies are back and we’ve finally broken our dry streak. Our feathered friends from the North are returning and geese are flocking in their signature V shape fly overs. Hearing them call as they approach is like hearing from an old friend. 

It’s time for some comfort food. 

Ingredients for this Black Eyed Pea Stew

Simple ingredients create the most mouthwatering stew. Subtly spicy with Harissa, it’s perfectly warming for the coldest of days. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Black Eyed Peas – dry or cooked/canned
• Garlic
• Onion
• Tomato Paste
• Harissa
• Fire Roasted Tomatoes
• Collard Greens
• Okra – fresh or frozen
• Cinnamon – a nice surprise!
• Lemon

How to Make Harissa Stewed Black Eyed Peas

There’s a time saving shortcut to this recipe. Instead of using dry and soaked black eyed peas, simply use canned black eyed peas and add them towards the end of cooking. 

• First, in a large stock pot or Dutch oven, heat oil to shimmering. Add the onion and cook until softened. Add the garlic. Stir in harissa and tomato paste, stirring to coat the onions. Add the, dried (and soaked) black-eyed peas, and water. Bring to a boil, then simmer. Place a lid on the pot and cook for 40 minutes. 
• Next, stir in the tomatoes, collard greens, and okra. Cook, lid on, on low for about 15-20 minutes. Stir in the salt, pepper, cinnamon and lemon juice. 
• Last, garnish with parsley. Serve with brown basmati rice (cooked with a cinnamon stick!).

If using canned or already cooked black eyed peas you’ll need about two cups. Drain the peas, reduce water to about 1 cup, skip cooking for 40 minutes and continue on with the recipe. 

A Few Recipe Notes

• Share this black eyed pea recipe with cornbread! Try my Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread or Gluten Free Cornbread recipe. 
• Use soaked overnight, dried black-eyed peas or canned black-eyed peas (look for vegetarian) or pre-cooked slow cooked black-eyed peas in this recipe. If using dried, be sure to give them a soak overnight – I’ve read it improves their digestibility and decreases phytic acid. Using pre-cooked peas cuts the cook time in this recipe by 40 minutes! So, if you’re meal planning, keep this in mind (noted in and below recipe).
• Use fresh or frozen okra in this recipe. It has the same cook time either way. 
• Collard greens are available pretty much year round. They’re tender, mild and packed with nutrition! 
• What is Harissa? Harissa is a North African and Middle Eastern spice blend that’s somewhat spicy, and over the top flavorful. It includes spices such as chili, garlic, coriander, caraway and mint.  I use the powder spice blend for this recipe. If you prefer paste, start with 1 to 1  1/2 tablespoons and adjust to taste. Harissa can be purchased as a paste or ground in spice jars.
• Freezer Friendly? Yes please! This recipe freezes beautifully! Thaw in the fridge overnight and gently rewarm on the stove top. 
• Instant Pot Note: On Facebook, Kim noted that she made this recipe in the Instant Pot. She said 40 minutes and it was good to go! 

More Black Eyed Pea Recipes to Love

• Cajun Stewed Black Eyed Peas and Greens
• Black Eyed Pea Sweet Potato Cornbread Pot Pie
• Slow Cooked Black Eyed Peas
• BBQ Black Eyed Peas Collard Rolls
• Black Eyed Peas with Smoky Collards and Cheesy Grits

Print Recipe

the recipe

Harissa Stewed Black Eyed Peas and Greens

Total Time:1 hour

Servings:5 - 6 Servings

Calories:224kcal

Author:Traci York | Vanilla And Bean

**Advance Prep Recommended** The dried black eyed peas should be soaked overnight, but there are other options (see notes!). Simple, saucy and over the top texture and flavor in Harissa Stewed Black-Eyed Peas with Okra and Collard Greens; a one pot meal! This recipe is vegetarian, vegan and gluten free.. *See notes for using unsoaked peas and/or for cutting down on cook time using precooked or canned peas instead of dried (time below is for dried beans).

There's a bit of overlap with prep and cook time in this recipe, so I lumped prep/cook all into one hour. The one hour time frame still allows time to whip up some rice or cornbread!

Ingredients

• 1 C (185g) Dried Black Eyed Peas soaked overnight, *see notes if using precooked black-eyed peas or if unsoaked dry peas
• 1 Tbs Coconut Oil or Olive Oil
• 1 C (120g) Red Onion about 1 medium
• 1 Tbs Garlic minced, about 2 large cloves
• 1 1/2 Tbs Harissa Seasoning spice blend, dry. If you prefer paste, start with 1 to 1  1/2 tablespoons and adjust to taste.  
• 2 Tbs Tomato Paste
• 3 1/2 C (785g) Water
• 1 1/2 C (411g) Fire Roasted Tomatoes one can
• 4 C (220g) Collard Greens destemmed, chopped into bite size pieces and packed, about 1 bunch
• 3 C (275g) Okra fresh or frozen, if frozen this is 1, 10 oz bag
• 1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp Ground Black Pepper
• 2 tsp Fine Sea Salt
• 1/2 Lemon juiced
• Parsley - Flat Leaf chopped for garnish

Instructions

• In a large stock pot or Dutch oven, heat oil to shimmering. Add the onion, and cook for about 7 minutes, stirring occassionally on medium-low or until softened. Add the garlic and cook for one minute, until fragrant. Stir in harissa seasoning and tomato paste, stirring to coat the onions for one minute. Add the dried (and soaked - see note** for unsoaked) black-eyed peas, and water. Bring to a boil, then turn down to low to simmer. Place a lid on the pot and cook for about 40 minutes OR until the peas are tender. 

  If using precooked black eyed peas, use about 2 C / 260g, drain peas, reduce water to about 1 cup, skip cooking for 40 minutes and continue on with the recipe. 
• To the black eyed peas, stir in the tomatoes, collard greens (in two batches if needed), and okra. Cook, lid on, on low for about 15-20 minutes, OR until the okra and collards are tender. Stir in the salt, pepper, cinnamon and squeeze of lemon juice. Taste for seasoning adjustment (collards and black eyed peas can take on quite a bit of salt. I tend to add a pinch more than the 1 tsp here, but adjust to your taste).

  Share with brown basmati rice or cornbread!
• Store in a lidded container for up to three days in the refrigerator, or up to three weeks in the freezer. Thaw overnight in the fridge and gently rewarm stovetop.

Notes

*To reduce cook time: Use canned or precooked Slow Cooked Black-Eyed Peas in this recipe - about 2 C. The cook time can be reduced by about 40 minutes! After cooking the veggies and spices and adding only 1 C of water, stir in the cooked black eyed peas then continue with the recipe. 

If Using Unsoaked Dry Black Eyed Peas: simply simmer the peas about 10 minutes longer, until tender, before adding the tomatoes, collards and okra. 

Fresh or Frozen Okra? Use fresh or frozen okra in this recipe. If using frozen, be sure to sort out the tough ends and discard them. 

Nutrition is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate. If this information is important to you, please have it verified independently.

Calories: 224kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 701mg | Potassium: 750mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2322IU | Vitamin C: 36mg | Calcium: 197mg | Iron: 4mg

Made It? Leave a comment below! The most helpful comment may include recipe rating, feedback, any modifications and/or helping other commenters. On Instagram? Take a snap of your make and share, tagging @VanillaAndBean #VanillaAndBean!

Melissa’s Produce sent me beautiful, fresh okra and onions to use in this recipe. All opinions are my own. 

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