Smashed Black-Eyed Peas (Print View)

Creamy black-eyed peas mashed with garlic, olive oil, and lemon for a versatile dip or side.

# Components:

→ Legumes

01 - 2 cups cooked black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed

→ Aromatics

02 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Oils and Acids

03 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
04 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
05 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest

→ Seasonings

06 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
07 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, optional
09 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, optional for garnish

# Directions:

01 - In a mixing bowl, combine the cooked black-eyed peas and minced garlic.
02 - Add the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, black pepper, and cumin if using.
03 - Using a potato masher or fork, mash the mixture until mostly smooth but still slightly chunky for textural contrast.
04 - Taste the mixture and adjust salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed to balance flavors.
05 - Transfer to a serving bowl, drizzle with additional olive oil, and sprinkle with parsley if desired.
06 - Serve as a dip with pita, crackers, or fresh vegetables, or as a hearty side dish alongside grilled proteins and roasted vegetables.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than you can set a table, yet tastes like you've been cooking all day.
  • The lemon cuts through the earthiness of the peas in a way that feels almost surprising.
  • Works as a dip, a spread, or a side dish—basically whatever your dinner needs it to be.
02 -
  • The texture is everything—over-mash it and you lose the character of the dish, so use restraint even if your instinct is to blend it smooth.
  • If you want creamier results without a food processor, reserve a few tablespoons of the liquid from your peas and stir it in instead of mashing harder.
03 -
  • If you want more depth, bloom the cumin in warm olive oil for thirty seconds before adding it to the peas—it wakes up the spice.
  • Keep a lemon on your counter; it's the secret ingredient that transforms ordinary pantry staples into something people ask about at dinner.
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