(Meatless Recipe) Spicy Black-Eyed Peas

 Side dish or main dish - I've served these both ways:

SPICY BLACK-EYED PEAS

1/2 medium onion, diced

1 green pepper, diced

Dash olive or veggie oil

2 cans (about 15 oz. each) black-eyed peas -- drain & rinse ONE can but leave the "goop" around the beans in the second can

1 can (about 14 oz.) petite diced tomatoes (I use no-salt added) -- don't drain -- use juices

1 tsp. dry (ground) mustard

Black pepper to taste

Dash of red pepper, if you like things hot (I omit this)

1 Tbsp. or so chili powder (to taste)

1/4 tsp. or so ground cumin

1/2 tsp. or so dried cilantro

1 - 2 tsp. lower sodium soy sauce

1/2 tsp. worcestershire sauce

--Hot cooked rice, for serving 

In a 10" frying pan with deep sides, saute the onion & green pepper in the oil, just til softened.  Reduce heat to medium and add everything else except the rice, in order (peas & tomatoes first, then stir in spices).  

Bring back up to the boil, then reduce heat & simmer for 20 minutes, uncovered.  Stir occasionally.  I use the simmering time to make some Basmati rice.

Served cooked peas over hot rice.  DH sprinkles grated Mexican Blend cheese over his.  If it's not "spicy" enough for some tastes, pass the hot sauce around.  I'm not crazy about spicy food, but I have no trouble with this recipe, as long as I don't over-do the pepper & use a mild chili powder.

Makes about 7-8 side servings.  This is good/better the next day as leftovers, which you can micro-heat. 

DD and I are going to try this tonight for supper.  We just need black-eyed peas.  All I have are purple hulls. 

Thanks!

Hope you like it!  If you like black-eyed peas & also a tomato/chili flavor in food, then this recipe has them both.

AuntLoLo, I forgot to ask you if you & your DD ever make veggie pizza?  In the summer, when I have an abundance of fresh peppers from the garden, I take a whole wheat pre-made pizza crust & spread it with tomato bruschetta (from a jar). Then I slice up different color peppers & some onion & lay that on top.  On goes the mozzarella, and then I grill everything for about 20 minutes.  I bought special grill pizza pans for our gas grill, and they work great.  DH & I can make a meal from this pizza.  I usually make two at a time, since we "fight" over the leftovers if I only make one!  

I could make this in the oven in the winter, but I really like the smoky taste the grill provides. 

We've made veggie pizza before, but never on the grill.  I keep hearing people talk about it.  Maybe we'll have to give it a try.  Where did you get your pizza pans?

I got the pans at a local store that sells gas grills & accessories, but the pans should be available elsewhere/nationwide.  They are "ZaGrill" pizza pans.  If you Google them, you might find a local source?  Or somewhere to order them.

What I like about the ZaGrill pan is the separate solid piece underneath the perforated pizza pan.  The solid piece sits up on legs on the grill grate.  It heats up to bake your pizza, but it doesn't let the gas flames burn the underside of the crust before the top is done.  About 20 minutes at 400 on the grill thermometer, with the grill lid down, and you have perfect summertime pizza without heating up the kitchen. 

Editing to add price - I think the pans were about $25 each?   

I think I've found my ZaGrill! 

I just called our local pool company, where we buy our pool supplies - and they also sell everything imaginable for grills. 

DH is the griller in our family, so he'll be happy with his new toy.  I just need to go to their store and see what I want to buy. 

Thanks again! 

Glad you found the pan!  Hope it isn't too cold to try it out soon!

I walked past Home Depot's grill dept. the other day & saw they had a lot of accessories, but I don't remember seeing the pizza pan.  They did have the sloped-sided perforated stir-fry pan, which might have to be my next investment.  

DH usually does the grilling here, too.  I stay inside & fix everything else while he gets to battle heat, humidity, smoke, and mosquitoes.  Fair trade, don't you think??   

Summer74:

DH usually does the grilling here, too.  I stay inside & fix everything else while he gets to battle heat, humidity, smoke, and mosquitoes.  Fair trade, don't you think??   

That's exactly our arrangement, too!  He doesn't mind and I don't either. 

Where do you live that you battle humidity and mosquitoes?  We may be neighbors!  LOL
(If you'd rather not say, I totally understand.) 

Let's just say that I live somewhere where those things are totally not a problem on a day like today!  Except maybe the smoke from the neighbors' fireplaces.   

Then we aren't next-door neighbors!  LOL

I'd love to see a little smoke from my own fireplace right now!