New Year’s Black-Eyed Pea Soup with Sausage & Collard Greens

Celebrate the New Year with a traditional, hearty, and flavorful soup. This dish combines tender black-eyed peas, savory sausage, and nutrient-rich collard greens for a comforting and delicious meal.

Ingredients

• 1 lb dried black-eyed peas, soaked for a few hours
• 4 bunches collard greens, washed, ends trimmed, and roughly chopped
• 2 lbs pork sausage links (cooked in a skillet, then sliced)
• 2 small cartons chicken stock
• 1 ½ teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 large can Rotel tomatoes
• 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon sugar (or less, to balance bitterness)
• 1 ½ cups water (adjust as needed)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Hot sauce (optional, for added heat)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Peas: Soak the black-eyed peas for a few hours. Drain and rinse before cooking.
2. Cook the Sausage: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the pork sausage until browned. Slice into bite-sized pieces and set aside.
3. Combine Ingredients in Crockpot: In a large crockpot, mix the soaked peas, cooked sausage, chopped collard greens, chicken stock, minced garlic, Rotel tomatoes, apple cider vinegar, tomato paste, and sugar.
4. Add Water: Pour in about 1 ½ cups of water. Adjust as needed during cooking to achieve the desired consistency.
5. Season and Stir: Stir the mixture well. Add salt, pepper, and a dash of hot sauce (if desired).
6. Cook Low and Slow: Set your crockpot to the low setting and let the soup cook for at least 10 hours or overnight. Stir occasionally and adjust seasoning as needed.
7. Final Touches: Before serving, taste the soup and adjust the flavors with more salt, pepper, or a splash of vinegar if needed.
8. Serve and Enjoy: Serve hot with cornbread for a comforting New Year’s meal.

Nutritional Information

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 10 hours (slow cooker) | Total Time: 10 hours 15 minutes
Calories: 450 kcal per serving | Servings: 8 servings