I have to say I started out hating black eyed peas and it was one of these types of beans that was an acquired taste at least for me and it seems that when I started to cook these beans is when I really started to like them. They can be cooked in many ways all the way from Asia like in places called India and Africa where they get made in to acara, ewa agoyin, red red, waakye and finally made it here to the USA just before the war of independance from Great Britain. When not only the British, it was the French, Spanish, Portugees and Belgians too that took people away in chains made them slaves.
It was a dangerous trip as well as demoralizing and dehumanizing. They managed to bring the seeds with them to make them over here being black eyed peas and okra. Plus the black eyed peas has been a huge part of the southern part of the USA from years to come after that.
It can be made with pieces in meat and or liquid smoke for flavor. Actually it is really interesting to find out how our food is grown and where it comes from. If these were bought fresh they would come in pods that you have to shell. Since I do not have fresh black eyed peas or any other type of beans, I end up getting the dried beans majority of the time. Sometimes I end up getting frozen if I can find it and sometimes I see prepackaged already shelled beans. The pressure cooker should be on high heat first of all.
I take 1 cup of black eyed peas sort them out to take out the tiny rocks and bad beans and wash it until the water runs clear. This was after I added the beans to a large cereal bowl. Add water to cover the beans and set aside. In a pressure cooker add 1/4 cup of olive oil, 1 onion or shallot sliced in to half moon slices and cooked until they are caramelized.
Add 3 cloves of garlic peeled and chopped, 1 pinch of black peppercorns ground in to a coarse powder in a mortar and pestle, either 1 pinch of chili flakes or 1 whole red chili crushed, 1 drop of hot sauce or 1 pinch of red chili powder, 3 dashes of seasoned salt or 3 pinches of vegtea seasoning, 3 drops of liquid smoke only if this dish is vegan or adding unsmoked meat. If using smoked meat such as smoked turkey or 6 pieces of zabiha halal turkey or beef bacon cut in to tiny pieces. It is 1 lb or kg of smoked turkey, veal, lamb, or beef necks, 1 pinch of paprika, 1 quart or 1 liter of water.
Cook in a pressure cooker for 20 minutes after the safety button pops up. Turn heat down to medium while it is cooking to make sure it has its pressure. After cooking time is up shut off the heat and let the pressure subside. Only if the black eyed peas are a little hard then add 1 glass of water and repeat by cooking for another 20 minutes. It depends on the stoves and not all stoves are the same.
Enjoy this with either rice or cornbread.
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