A little reason to celebrate
National Black-eyed Pea Day
Food ยท January 1
A day for black-eyed peas, the cream-colored legume with a dark spot, simmered with greens, rice and smoky seasoning across the American South.
National Black-eyed Pea Day falls on Friday, January 1, 2027. That is 66 days away.
Black-eyed peas are not really peas. They are a type of cowpea, a bean-like legume, pale cream in color with a small dark spot where the seed was attached to its pod. That spot is the eye, and it gives the bean its name.
They cook faster than many dried beans and have an earthy, slightly nutty flavor with a soft, creamy texture. In Southern cooking they often share a pot with onion, garlic and something smoky, such as ham hock or bacon. Served over rice, the dish is known as Hoppin' John. Paired with collard greens and cornbread, they make a plate many families know by heart.
They also travel well beyond the South. Black-eyed peas turn up in salads with vinegar and herbs, in fritters, in curries and in stews from West Africa, India and the Mediterranean. A cold version dressed with peppers and onion is sometimes called Texas caviar, which is a generous name for a bowl of beans, though nobody at the potluck seems to mind.
Dried black-eyed peas do not need a long soak. A quick rinse and an hour or so of gentle simmering usually does it, though older beans may take longer. Canned and frozen ones are already cooked and only need warming.
The pot liquor left after simmering is full of flavor, and plenty of cooks save it for sopping up with cornbread.
Ways to celebrate
- Simmer a pot of black-eyed peas with onion and a little smoked seasoning.
- Try Hoppin' John, black-eyed peas served over rice.
- Toss a cold black-eyed pea salad with peppers, onion and vinaigrette.
- Bake a pan of cornbread to go with the peas.
- Look for black-eyed peas in a West African or Indian recipe.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Thursday, January 1 |
| 2027 | Friday, January 1 |
| 2028 | Saturday, January 1 |
| 2029 | Monday, January 1 |
| 2030 | Tuesday, January 1 |
All national days on January 1
Also on January 1
Categories: Food days