Everyday Eats: Black-Eyed Pea Salad with Corn and Peppers
My year is not off to the luckiest of starts.
Yesterday, while packing up all of our Christmas decorations, putting our gingerbread house and painted pinecones decorated with Red Hots in the safest of places*, Gigi made an upsetting discovery.
*the recycling bin is a very, very safe place
She found not one, but two Karaoke Christmas Microphones that my dear aunt gave the girls for Christmas. I had unfortunately not put them in the safest of places**.
**Pea Daddy’s workbench, though rarely used for work of any kind, is not a very, very safe place.
And then my stroke of bad luck continued, because the girls made up for lost time with their Karaoke Christmas Microphones.
In the morning, my every move was given a muffled, feedback riddled play-by-play.
“AND MOMMY IS FLIPPING THE FRENCH TOAST, NOW SHE’S GETTING OUT THE MAPLE SYRUP AND I DON’T WANT WATER I WANT ORANGE JUICE!”
All said to a really horrid Muzak version of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
At dinner, saying grace was amplified.
“THANK YOU FOR THIS FOOD AND EVERYTHING YOU DID FOR US AND PLEASE KEEP US HEALTHY AND SAFE, AMEN!!!!” with “Silent Night” in the background.
After dinner, bedtime stories were read at 140 decibels.
“WE ARE IN A BOOK! WE ARE BEING READ!” Jingle bells…jingle bells…jingle all the way…
I’m not one to believe in superstitions, but if eating black-eyed peas for New Years is going to change my luck, at this point, I’m willing to try anything.
Joy to the world!
Black-Eyed Pea Salad with Corn and Peppers
Makes 4 servings
- 2 bell peppers, any color, seeded and diced
- 1/4 c. minced onion
- 1 c. corn (fresh or frozen)
- 1 T. fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 14 oz. can black-eyed peas (or any other canned bean), drained and rinsed
- salt and pepper to taste
Dressing:
- 1/4 c. seasoned rice vinegar
- 3 T. balsamic vinegar
- 2 T. extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 T. water
- 1 t. minced garlic
- 1/2 t. cumin
- 1/2 t. chili pepper
- 1/2 t. salt
In a large bowl, combine peppers, onions, parsley and corn. There’s no need to defrost the corn—this is eventually going to all hang out in the fridge for awhile.
Add black-eyed peas and stir until thoroughly mixed.
In a small bowl, combine rice vinegar, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, water, garlic, cumin, chili powder and salt. Whisk together.
Pour dressing over bean mixture and stir to evenly distribute.
Season with salt and pepper to taste. While this is delicious immediately, it’s even better if you cover it and refrigerate from an hour or two to overnight.
Then, it’s phenomenal.
The combination of the tangy vinaigrette, the sweet smoky corn, crisp peppers and hearty black-eyed peas almost make me forget my string of bad luck.
But then those thoughts are interrupted by a squeaky, screechy “Oh Come All Ye Faithful.” Oh my.
Pea Daddy is starting at a new job tomorrow, and I’ve already got this packed up for his lunch. Gotta clue those co-workers into his quirky food early on.
And while it may be a little unnerving to start something new, it does mean that he has at least eight hours free of Christmas Karaoke.
Some guys have all the luck.
I hope his job goes well, starting a new job is always scary. Will it be in his same field he has been in (which is what, if I can ask? Am I right in thinking he is an attorney?)
This salad looks phenomenal. I will be buying these ingredients the next time I go to the store. Although I have never seen roasted corn, just regular. Boo.
I learned my lesson early on about the recycling container-empty it outside immediately if putting something “important” in it.
I can just hear the microphones now. Ugh.
Yup, still law!
Ooooh, what a delicious combination of flavors and love the pepper crunch! Hilarious about the microphones. Who invents childrens’ toys??? Seriously!!!
Satan.
Ah hahaha. I can just hear that noise of little children’s voices coming through those crappy microphones. Perhaps we need a recording of Lulu singing “bah bah pickle” into the mic?!”
Hang in there.
Oh I have a few…
This looks delicious, and perfect to bring for lunches to work.
Good luck to Pea Daddy!
Thanks, love!
How exciting for Pea Daddy!
And I had never heard of this BEP tradition for luck until this year. I totally would have eaten them yesterday for dinner!!! This recipe looks pretty darn tasty!
It really is awesome. Even Pea D was loving it and he usually doesn’t like this kind of thing. You can use any bean!
Too funny! The microphones should have come with an adult gift – earplugs
lol
I’m starting a new job tomorrow too! Great way to start the new year. I’ve been looking for some great healthy lunch ideas, so I’ll have to try this salad out for sure – thanks!
Good luck with your new job! I’m sending cornbread with Pea D’s salad, but you could also bulk it up with quinoa, millet or brown rice for a full meal.
There is a dish similar to this that’s really common in Texas, especially in Austin. But they call it “pea caviar”… Such a weird name, but it’s seriously good and I’m sure your version is too! Good luck to your husband at his new job!
My mother in law got my girls the same gift. I considering storing it in the garbage can for the year. I cringe when I hear them click on!! Just bought black eyed peas today- can’t wait to try this!
Oh my gosh, where do they find these things?!?
good question- but do you think you could represent a class action lawsuit against them??? LOL J/K
I am no longer licensed to practice law, but we may have a good case on our hands.
That looks so good! I think I’ll run to the store and get all the stuff to make this tomorrow! I could use a little good luck. I only ate a spoon full of black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day. They are one of my favorite things to eat but did not have time to prepare them on Sunday. I had a bite of my Mom’s after I was stuffed from eating other food served in a place where they didn’t have black-eyed peas. Hope Pea Daddy has a great first day tomorrow!
Thank you! Let me know how you like the salad!
Go Pea Daddy! Tell him to be brave and ask where the bathroom is. (Long story)
He asked on Friday when he moved some stuff in
But I do want to hear your long story.
Sorry that the Gift Fairy didn’t hide things a little better in the trash…ugh. The gift fairy over here has made that mistake over the years. The aftermath is not a pretty sight.
But the sight of this meal…LOVE the bright yellow and red peppers and the photos are so pretty. The lead off shot with that herb garnish…so pretty!
Good luck dealing with your little Peas
Oh this looks so yummy! Sorry to hear about all the karaoke going on:)
Oh my! We just brought home a lovely drum set from our family members in NYC. I tried to ‘forget’ it as we packed up the van, but funny how kids always do a final sweep of the house before we leave! I’ve been using the headache excuse for 2 days, think it will last much longer?
Think I might try this salad with chickpeas!
Hope everythin goes well with the new job!
Also I cringed at the microphone thing…a new safe place must be found very, very soon…
How about as a shower gift for my dear friend Heather???
Mmmmm. This sounds so good. My mother in law made her traditional with bacon.
I did not eat any but got to enjoy coming home to a strange smell! She decided to make her black eyed peas when they came to stay at our place. I think I will suggest this to her next year! My sister in law and I refused to eat hers.
My mom also said black-eyed peas need bacon
I have had a bag of black eyed peas burning a hole in my freezer for about 6 months….finally have an excuse to thaw them out!! SCORE.
Good Luck, Pea Daddy! Im sure you’ll do great.
hopefully you got a big raise too.
He says, “Thank you!”
Sending Pea Daddy all the luck in the world with his first day tomorrow! I know he will be great, and I am sure that his co workers will think his food is awesome. I am also sending you all the broken microphone vibes I got Mama. The salad looks amazing.
I’m starting a new job tomorrow, too!
Just finished moving from my old apartment to my sweetie’s place & will need to wait until the weekend to try this recipe. Looks like I need to get some roasted corn. Good thing the new place is close to Trader Joe’s!
Oh man, the corn is so good! Good luck with your new job!
I am SO making this when we are home from our trip to the Dominican Republic (yep, I’m feeling lucky). My kids probably won’t eat it, but this is something I could eat all week long for lunch! Yummy. Keep those awesome recipes rollin’, or writing – since you are working on book 2!
Just a few other things….
One of my co-workers got your book for Christmas – I totally have her hooked on your blog and now your book. Looking forward to rating the recipes with her!
Secondly, I was at the bookstore the other day and saw your book! But, it wasn’t super visible, so I put it in front of another much less appealing to me book so that it would be seen by more people
Take care and maybe things will look up tomorrow (you could always take out the batteries…)
Oh my goodness, enjoy your trip! Thank you for re-shelving our book and thank you for spreading the Pea love with your co-workers!
This sounds delicious! I can’t say that I remember ever having black eyed peas. Which is bizarre because my parents owned a cajun restaurant for a couple of years when I was a kid! I was more interested in the corn bread back then, I think. I will have to try them in this salad!
Happy new year mama pea! Good luck to Pea daddy on his new job. My hubby and I are moving this weekend to tenneessee and I start a new job on Monday! I am so excited because I’ll be a few miles from trader joes at our new house in Nashville! My kitchen is going to bs such a happy place!
Congrats and good luck!!!
Hope he has a great first day! Man, I have to say that I really want one of those microphones now. Because that sounds like the best thing for me to entertain myself with as I try to determine how to use up time now that I’m injured. (BTW dancing all night requires proper footwear apparently).
I’ll cut you a really good deal on two.
Feel better!
At a summer job a few years back, I invented a game called “Tennis American Idol” for the six year old kids I was coaching.
Biggest. mistake. ever.
There was a reason they were attending tennis, not singing, camp.
LOL! Bless her heart, that Gigi keeps trying!
Love you, love the Mo Willems reference! Those are my students’ favorite books!
The girls read them to each other every night and fight over who gets to be Gerald and who gets to be Piggie.
haha. I can imagine what the karaoke must be doing to your nerves, I have had this experience while baby sitting a nephew few months ago
LOL, oh no. Hiding places are going to get harder and harder as the girls grow, good luck with that! Hopefully the novelty will wear off soonish.
The black eyed peas look delish! Very colorful and refreshing after 2 months of heavy holiday grub.
Good luck to Pea Daddy!
I feel like I can hear the girls singing right now. Ha! Good luck to Pea Daddy on his first day at the new job. I bet he’ll be the most popular one there when word gets out about his famous wife!
Ha, hardly! They’ll be like, “Damn Matheny and his bean salad.”
i love those TJ’s already-roasted corn. they should make already-roasted versions of everything – sweet potato, kale, etc…
I agree! That corn is AMAZING. I could eat it straight from the bag…frozen.
You know, I may be 24 rather than under 10, and my mum may be one of my most ardent supporters when it comes to me singing a solo with my gospel choir at concerts, but I think this is EXACTLY why she hasn’t bought me Singstar. She knows I’d abuse my Karaoke privileges. Still, maybe if I talked to my great Aunt…. she’d probably buy me opera singstar though. Ugh.
Hope the delicious beans work for you, and Happy New Year, dear MP!
I don’t know what Singstar is, and I really don’t want to know
Happy New Year to you too!
Wow this looks so yum!! Good luck to daddy pea on the new job. I was wondering where the “where peas roll” tab went? I am without my contacts at the moment so i am probably just totally blind and overlooking it!!
I did some reorganization of the site a few months ago and my blogroll was terribly outdated, so I took it down.
I “accidentally” lost a toy or two this Christmas. Turns out that Baby Alive Jump & Shriek or whatever she’s called had “defective batteries” (in that they only work when you turn it on! Shocker) and she no longer works in our house. Ugh.
Good luck to Pea Daddy on the new job!
LOL! We have one of those too. I think she got “lost” in the closet.
Oh! Congrats to Pea Daddy on his new job! Is he going to a new firm? Happy for him and hope he has a great first day!
Love your profile pic on here, I think I told you that before, its beautiful!
Happy Tuesday! <3
Yes, Katie, he’s going to a new firm. His prior partner retired. Thanks for the sweet compliments!
LOL! I would seriously pay to stay at your house for this entertainment!!
HA HA HA – poor you!!! Although, I’m the kind of evil aunt who would give something like that to her nephews to torture her siblings…ha ha ha!!!
That salad looks sooo good. Right on time too. I made a Chicago style stuffed pizza for dinner on NYE and we have eaten it three nights in a row. While plodding on the treadmill this morning I kind of felt like I needed a cleanse!
You’ll love this! I’m about to go plod on my treadmill. Ugh.
Ah! So exciting for Pea Daddy – good luck to him!!
My son had one of those microphones. It made some kind of ear-splitting hellish shriek when you talked into it. Then he got another (no idea who bought him either one), and this one is nice and tame, so the old one got put in the bin for the less fortunate. Looking back, I probably shouldn’t have made them even less fortunate with that “donation.”
Oh snap, I need to get that corn at TJs! It looks so good!
And congrats to P Daddy! I hope his first day goes great!
Were you able to find that salad at TJ’s that I was talking about? Just wondering. Happy New Year!
I couldn’t find it! The only vegan salad I found was the Super Spinach one. Do you remember what it was called?
SO creative, and healthy! I love cold salads!
Haha “at this point I’m willing to try everything”. Love it! I love this idea of lucky foods; so interesting.
I also love how colourful this salad is
. Colourful salads are the best!
I’ve never had Black Eyed Peas before but this salad looks delicious. A must try!
This looks delicious!! Good luck to Pea D on his new venture!
My daughter got that same Christmas microphone and I’m really tempted to throw it in the trash
It’s just one of those toys I can’t see myself tuning out… Anyways… Your salad look delicious! 
I’m sure I’m the 78th person to tell you this, but I really like the font on the pictures in your slidey picture thing. What program did you use?
Thank you, actually you are the first! I have to crop my pictures to fit my header in Piknik so I just was playing around with the other features as well.
Go Pea D! Rock that salad. Hope it’s a good first day!
While I don’t have kids of my own, I always get stuck listening to the most annoying toys. I swear parents save these for when the babysitter comes as a “treat” for the kids. I’m going to have to start charging more if this continues.
Mmmm! And your pictures are so crisp and clear too. We are starting to eat even less meat and dairy than before so this rocks. But not kereoke rock, just….as in cool rock. I guess. And the greens recipe post was FANTASTIC even before I put bacon in. So you might like. Garlic does make the world go round!
These look delicious. Hope Pea D has enjoys the new job.
Such a beautiful dish! So many vibrant colors! I have never cooked with black-eyed peas, I definitely will give this recipe a try. Every recipe I have made from your blog and book always turn out amazing!!
They aren’t dissimilar to a black bean. Hope you give it a try!
I made this tonight and it.is.phenomenal. I didn’t have any fresh parsley so I used dried. Even my 5 year old and 3 year old ate it up! Thanks for another winner, this will be a regular in my house!!!
So glad! We love it so much too.
One of my goals this year is to make more wholesome, easy dinners. This post helps!
Yum! I love “cheat sheets” – ie ways to make one recipe go a long way! Also I’m about to start a wonderful cleanse that my naturopath has put me on and these recipes include a lot of foods I’m allowed to eat so yay!
Yum, yum, yum! Making this recipe this weekend and about to tweet it out! I love peppers and chickpeas.
It is SOOOO good. I hope you love it!
Have you tried making this with pasta? I’m thinking that adding some rotini would be good!
I have it, but definitely sounds like a great addition!