Hearty Vegetarian Black-Eyed Peas and Brown Rice
This flavorful and filling vegetarian dish combines the earthy goodness of black-eyed peas with the nutty flavor of brown and wild rice. Perfect for gatherings with vegetarian friends, it's a comforting meal that offers a delightful balance of textures and tastes. Simmered with aromatic spices and fresh chili peppers, this dish is not only hearty enough to satisfy but also a great make-ahead option. Any leftovers freeze beautifully, making it a convenient choice for meal prep. Enjoy it as a standalone meal or use it as a delectable filling for burritos, adding versatility to your culinary repertoire.
4-6
Servings
140
Calories
9
Ingredients
Ingredients
Dried black-eyed peas
1 1/2 cups (Rinsed and sorted)
Water
4 cups (For boiling the peas)
Fresh chili peppers
2 (One chopped, one whole)
Salt
1/2 teaspoon (To taste)
Onion
1 large, chopped (For flavoring)
Brown rice
1 cup (Raw)
Water
2 1/2 cups (For cooking rice)
Butter
1 tablespoon (To enrich the rice)
Wild rice
1/4 cup (To be added to the brown rice)
Instructions
1
Begin by rinsing and sorting the dried black-eyed peas to remove any debris.
2
In a large pot, combine the black-eyed peas with 4 cups of water and bring to a gentle boil for 2 minutes.
3
Remove the pot from heat, cover it, and let the beans soak for 1 hour to tenderize.
4
After soaking, return the pot to the stove, bring the beans back to a boil, and reduce to low heat. Simmer the peas for about 30 minutes until they are tender.
5
While the beans are simmering, prepare the rice. In a separate pot, bring 2 1/2 cups of water and 1 tablespoon of butter to a rapid boil.
6
Add 1 cup of brown rice gradually to the boiling water, stir gently, and then cover. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.
7
After 20 minutes, uncover the pot and add 1/4 cup of wild rice. Stir gently, re-cover, and allow it to simmer for an additional 30 minutes.
8
For the last 5 minutes of cooking, remove the lid to let steam escape and finish cooking the rice.
9
Once both the beans and rice are cooked, add the chopped chili pepper, salt, and chopped onion to the beans, continuing to simmer for an additional 1.5 hours, or until everything melds perfectly together.
10
To serve, spoon the aromatic black-eyed peas over the cooked rice, allowing the flavorful sauce to drizzle over.
Nutrition Information
2g
Fat
23g
Carbs
6.5g
Protein
3.5g
Fiber
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main dish in this recipe?
The main dish is Hearty Vegetarian Black-Eyed Peas and Brown Rice, a flavorful and filling meal combining legumes and whole grains.
Is this recipe suitable for vegetarians?
Yes, this recipe is entirely vegetarian-friendly as it uses plant-based ingredients like beans and rice, though it does contain butter.
How many servings does this recipe yield?
This recipe makes approximately 4 to 6 servings.
What are the primary ingredients?
The primary ingredients are dried black-eyed peas, brown rice, wild rice, onion, chili peppers, and butter.
Do I need to soak the black-eyed peas?
Yes, the instructions recommend a quick boil for 2 minutes followed by a 1-hour soak to tenderize the beans.
How much brown rice is required?
You will need 1 cup of raw brown rice.
What type of chili peppers should I use?
The recipe calls for 2 fresh chili peppers; one should be chopped and one left whole.
How long does the rice take to cook in total?
The brown rice simmers for 20 minutes alone, then an additional 30 minutes after adding the wild rice, totaling 50 minutes of simmering.
Can I freeze the leftovers?
Yes, the leftovers freeze beautifully, making this a great option for meal prep.
How many calories are in one serving?
Each serving contains approximately 140 calories.
What is the protein content of this dish?
Each serving provides about 6.5g of protein.
How much fat is in this recipe?
There are 2g of fat per serving.
Does this dish contain fiber?
Yes, there are 3.5g of fiber per serving.
How many carbohydrates are in a serving?
There are 23g of carbohydrates per serving.
What is the purpose of adding wild rice?
Wild rice is added to the brown rice to provide a nutty flavor and a delightful balance of textures.
How much water is needed for the black-eyed peas?
You need 4 cups of water to boil and soak the black-eyed peas.
How much water is needed for the rice?
You need 2 1/2 cups of water for cooking the rice mixture.
Why is butter added to the rice?
One tablespoon of butter is added to enrich the flavor and texture of the rice.
How long do the beans simmer after the initial soak?
After soaking, the peas simmer for 30 minutes before the seasonings are added, and then for another 1.5 hours.
When do I add the onion and chili peppers?
The chopped onion and chili peppers are added to the beans after they have simmered for the first 30 minutes.
What is the total simmering time for the beans with seasonings?
The beans simmer for an additional 1.5 hours once the vegetables and salt are added.
How should the dish be served?
Spoon the aromatic black-eyed peas over the cooked rice, allowing the sauce to drizzle over the grains.
Can this recipe be used for anything other than a bowl?
Yes, it makes a delectable and filling ingredient for vegetarian burritos.
How much salt is used in this recipe?
The recipe calls for 1/2 teaspoon of salt, or more to taste.
What size onion is recommended?
The recipe suggests using 1 large chopped onion.
Should the rice pot be covered?
Yes, the rice should be covered while simmering, except for the final 5 minutes when the lid is removed to let steam escape.
Is this a good dish for meal prep?
Absolutely, it is specifically noted as a great make-ahead option that stores well.
What is the preparation for the black-eyed peas before boiling?
The dried peas should be rinsed and sorted to remove any debris.
How much wild rice is used?
The recipe uses 1/4 cup of wild rice.
What kind of texture does the final dish have?
It offers a balance of textures, combining the soft, tender beans with the nutty, slightly chewy brown and wild rice.