Best Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas Recipe (No Soaking)

In this post, I will be sharing an easy way to make Black Eyed Peas from scratch in the Instant pot with no soaking.

Can you really make the best black eyed peas in the instant pot in under an hour? With no soaking? Yes! This recipe will amaze you!

What Can You Eat Black Eyed Peas With?

Black eyed peas are one of the foods that instantly take me back to my childhood. I remember my Grandmother, (who was born in North Carolina), making them and serving them over white rice.

They were smoky from the ham hocks or whatever smoked meat she chose that day. They were heavenly.

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I started making them in my 20s for New Year’s Eve as part of the traditional meal so many other Black and African-American families have each year.

It was served with collard greens, the rice and, a pork of some sort. It is meant to help usher in good fortune and luck.

But, I used canned black eyed peas because that’s all I knew and didn’t want to make them from scratch.

I was a newbie in the kitchen and when I think back, I definitely didn’t pay attention to the little things my Grandmother did in the kitchen enough. I honestly did not know how to cook black eyed peas. I was always just so excited to eat when it was ready.

As I got more comfortable in the kitchen, I started going back to the basics and using dried beans instead of canned.

There was a lot of trial and error, and to be honest, I hated them. Everything took too long. Soaking overnight seemed like a chore. Cooking the beans took hours to get as tender as I liked them. It was a lot.

That was until I finally decided to get an instant pot. It has literally changed my life for the better. I truly do not know what I would do without it at this point. In fact, I now have two.

This No Soak Black Eyed Pea recipe is meant to replace the canned version sold in stores. It is designed to allow the beans to shine without extra crazy ingredients or spices. You can freeze them, or add them into another recipe or dish. These could also make a great soup.

Plus, this recipe skips the overnight soak traditionally used with dried beans. And it’s accidentally vegan. Winning!!

Quick Tips About Dried Beans:

Dealing with dry beans are much different that using canned. Here are a couple of tips I’ve picked up over the last couple of years.

#1 You Make More With Less

This recipe only uses 2 cups of dried beans to feed 4-6 people. They plump up and can go much further than using canned.

#2 They Need Seasoning Throughout Cooking Process

This is debatable, but a little salt is like magic for beans. But, the type of salt is also very important. I used to use regular sea salt, but I’ve started using kosher salt during the overnight soak and then to taste when cooking. Kosher Salt is a saltier salt, so a little goes a long way. However, it is salty enough to help the beans get properly seasoned.

Suggested Reading: Do Spices Expire? 3 Ways To Keep Your Spices and Seasonings Fresh & Flavorful

#3 They Are Much More Economical

Cooking dried beans is amazingly economical. You can get them for as cheap as less than $2 per pound at walmart to $6 per pound at specialty artisanal stores. One pound of dried beans can yield 5 to 6 cups of cooked beans. One can of beans is a 15.5 ozs and yields 1.2 cups of cooked beans.

Of course, the biggest deterrent when choosing dried is the time factor. That’s why I love the instant pot because it eliminates that issue.

Be sure to check out my friend Tyra Lane-Kingsland’s delicious Black Eyed Pea Collard Stew after you’ve made these. Her recipe is perfect to help these peas shine.

How To Make Instant Pot Black Eyed-Peas (No Soaking Needed)

Step 1: Add rinsed beans to the instant pot.

Step 2: Add Water, Olive Oil, and Bay Leaves.

Step 3: Set the Instant Pot to 30 Minutes manual pressure.

Step 4: After 30 Minutes, use the quick release to be able to remove the lid. Check the beans to see how tender they are.

Step 5: If you like them firm, you’re done. If you would like them more tender, replace the lid and add 5 minutes to the manual pressure setting and let them cook a bit longer. Taste and add salt and pepper to taste.

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