Happy New Year Black-Eyed Peas (Instant Pot)

I live in Texas. Here, as in most of the southern United States, we celebrate the New Year with foods representing luck and prosperity. Black-eyed peas likely originated in West Africa and were introduced to the southern United States as early as the 17th century by people brought here as slaves. It is this rich food culture that provides the symbolic food of New Years Day. The black-eyed peas represent luck, collard or other dark greens represent wealth and cornbread echoes gold. All our hopes for the year set forth in food.

I recall our wonderful neighbor, Louise Mann, bringing over a tray loaded with peas, greens and cornbread every New Years Day until she finally taught me how to make them. She made her back-eyed peas with ham hocks and her greens with bacon. They were delicious sopped up with the crumbly, sweet cornbread.

This recipe is a new one I tried in 2017. I was hoping for something lighter and brighter and this is what I came up with. The Rotel tomatoes and chilies are also regional, but you can likely get them online. They ended up in the recipe as I attempted to clean out my pantry.

Black-eyed peas are very nutritious. A cup contains 14g of protein, is rich in calcium, folic acid, vitamins A and C and is less that 200 calories.

I hope you have a healthy, peaceful and prosperous New Year.

RECIPE: Black Eye Peas (Instant Pot Recipe)

INGREDIENTS

• 1 Cup chopped fennel 

• 1 Cup chopped Spanish onion

• 2 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 

• 1 can Rotel original diced tomatoes and chilies(10oz) Do Not Drain

• 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 oz) Do Not Drain

• 24oz fresh or soaked black eyed peas

• 1-1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon sugar

PROCESS

• Sautée fennel & onions with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and sugar until starting to turn brown on edges.

• Add the black-eyed peas and canned tomatoes and Rotel with liquid.

• Add 20oz water and 1 tsp salt.

• Cook using bean setting (30 min high pressure) with natural release.  Smash a few peas against the side of the pot and stir in for a creamier texture if you desire.

• Alternately, you can cook them slowly on the stove top for about an hour and a half, until tender.

Pasta with Light Tomato Sauce

It’s tomato season where I live! This year, after hurricanes, freezes, and 2 snowings (most unusual for us), the tomato crop is more plentiful than ever. As a result, I’m inspired to create new tomato sauces.  This one is light and aromatic using fennel and mild herbs. No need to peel or core the tomatoes, just chop them up.  The addition of white wine helps to meld the flavors as the alcohol cooks away. This sauce also cooks in the time it takes to make the pasta, which is perfect.

The tomatoes are truly the star here, so freshness is important.  I have also used a good quality pasta made with ancient wheat from Italy as the sauce is light and the taste of the pasta is important. Several artisanal varieties using heritage American wheats are also available online. Or, just use your favorite dried pasta. 

This dish is rich in vitamins A, C, B1, B2, B6, folate, niacin, potassium, manganese, several other nutrients, minerals and fiber.  The pasta also contains some protein. You can add a little cheese if you like, for calcium.

RECIPE:  Pasta with Light Tomato Sauce (white wine, fennel, marjoram, thyme) 

INGREDIENTS

• 1-1/2 lb tomatoes, chopped (I used San Marzano, but plum or Roma would be fine)
• 1 cup finely chopped fennel 
• 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes 
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• A few sprigs each, marjoram and thyme 
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley
• 1/4 cup fresh basil
• 250 grams (dry weight) noodles, just undercooked as they will finish cooking in the sauce (I used tortiglioni here, but penne with ridges would be perfect)

PROCESS

1. Cook the pasta according to the directions in salted water while you prepare the sauce.
2. Heat oil in pan with the pepper flakes.
3. Add the fennel and sauté for about 3 minutes to soften.
4. Add the tomatoes, wine, salt, marjoram and thyme. Simmer gently for 8-10 minutes.
5. Drain the pasta, add it to the sauce and toss. 
6. Add the parsley and basil and toss again.
7. Serve immeidately

Serves 4 (or 2 with generous portions)