Black Eyed Pea Soup Recipe Is a Hearty One-Pot Dish To Bring You Good Luck and Fortune in the New Year

Eating your way to good luck for the New Year is a tradition for many. Hence why, foods such as black eyed peas are often enjoyed on New Year’s Day. This legume is known for its nutty and earthy flavor along its rich history, which makes it perfect to use for a hearty soup. Making black eyed pea soup is a simple and delicious way to usher in some good fortune for 2025. No need to worry about soaking the dry legumes either. We highlight a recipe that uses frozen black peas that are ready to cook right away. Read on to learn more about preparing a mouthwatering batch of black eyed pea soup.

What is black eyed pea soup?

This soup consists of black eyed peas, broth or stock, seasonings and other ingredients that are simmered until the legumes are soft and tender. From there, the soup can be eaten solo or with a slice of moist cornbread—which is another food associated with good luck. This soup’s rich and savory essence makes it a worthy option for your New Year’s Day dinner menu.

How black eyed peas became a good luck staple

The story behind black eyed peas becoming a New Year’s Day tradition varies: some believe it dates back to the Civil War, while culinary historians like Jessica B. Harris have written about the vivid connection between these legumes and African American history. Nonetheless, black eyed peas themselves are pretty remarkable as they have a firm yet buttery texture, earthy flavor and are full of fiber and other nutrients.

While you can prepare black eyed peas in a number of ways, black eyed pea soup is a great filling option to satisfy your appetite. According to Capi Peck, executive chef and owner of Trio’s Restaurant in Arkansas, eating them a specific way could boost your luck. “You’re supposed to eat one pea for every day of the year to ensure that you have good luck and prosperity,” she said in an interview with the news outlet THV11. This is a lot of black eyed peas for one sitting, so feel free to just serve yourself a hearty bowl of the soup instead.

How to make black eyed pea soup

This creamy black eyed pea soup recipe comes from the What’s Kay Cook’N YouTube channel. The recipe uses a mix of garlic cloves, sausage, oregano and other add-ins to flavor up plain frozen black eyed peas. Enjoying this as one of your first meals in 2025 could set the stage for a wonderful year ahead!

Black Eyed Pea Soup

Ingredients:

• 2 (24 oz.) bags of frozen black eyed peas (Note: You don’t need to soak the frozen peas)
• 1 (13 oz.) pack smoked turkey sausage or another meat or vegan variety, diced
• 3 celery stalks, chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 tsp. granulated garlic
• 1 tsp granulated onion
• 4 to 5 cup chicken or vegetable stock
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 Tbs. oregano
• 1 Tbs. salt
• 1 Tbs. black pepper
• 1 tsp. crushed red pepper or hot sauce (optional)
• 3 Tbs. olive oil, divided

Directions:

• Yield: 6 to 8 servings

1. Heat 1½ Tbs. olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Once heated, add sausage and cook until meat begins to brown. This may take a few minutes but keep an eye on it to prevent burning. Scoop browned sausage into bowl. Set aside.
2. In same pot, add remaining 1½ Tbs. olive oil, onion, celery, salt and pepper. Sauté mixture until vegetables have softened, around 5 minutes. Place minced garlic in pot, stir and cook an additional minute.
3. Pour sausage back into pot and include black eye peas and stock. Stir well and let mixture come to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook covered 20 to 30 minutes, or until black eye peas are soft and tender.
4. Sprinkle in crushed red pepper or hot sauce (if using) and oregano. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed. Add heavy cream to soup and combine. Cook another 10 minutes uncovered.
5. Portion soup into bowls and serve immediately.