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Start off the New Year with good health and a lucky streak thanks to black eyed peas and leafy greens in this easy Black Eyed Peas Salad! A few diced vegetables and a sweet and smoky dressing brings it all together.
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New Year’s food traditions are popular all over the world. In the United States, black eyed peas, symbolizing coins, are said to bring good luck and prosperity if eaten on New Year’s Day. They are traditionally eaten in a dish called Hoppin’ John, which is basically a stew. With this salad, though, we are going for light and fresh.
I’ve packed this salad with all things healthy and a little luck, too, by way of black eyed peas and leafy greens (which symbolize money are are also said to bring good luck and wealth). Paired with a tangy, sweet and smoky dressing that is downright drinkable, this Black Eyed Peas Salad is sure to get your New Year off to a good start.
Ingredients you need
Ingredient notes and substitutions
Black eyed peas ~ Black eyed peas, or black eyed beans or cowpeas as they are sometimes called, are tender and creamy like white beans with a nutty, earthy, and slightly sweet taste. They are one of my favorite beans, though admittedly I don’t use them often enough!
I used canned for convenience, but you can cook your own from scratch if you prefer.
Be sure to try my Black Eyed Peas Pasta and Black Eyed Peas Soup, too!
Vegetables ~ Grape tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, and corn are the perfect complements to the black eyed peas. Feel free to use your favorite veggies, like diced celery, diced zucchini, diced red onion, sliced radishes for a peppery bite, shredded carrots, etc. Fresh herbs would be great, too, like fresh parsley or cilantro.
Leafy greens ~ Leafy greens are always a good idea. They are so nutritious! I like to use baby greens because they’re tender and don’t need to be chopped. Use your favorite greens or leave them out if you prefer. This salad is great with just the beans and veggies, too.
Dressing ~ The oil-free salad dressing is tangy, sweet, and smoky. It’s a great match for the chosen salad ingredients.
How to make the recipe
Please scroll down to the recipe card for exact ingredient measurements and instructions.
- Step 1: Whisk all the dressing ingredients in a large bowl.
- Step 2: Add the black eyed peas and vegetables. Toss to coat evenly in the dressing.
- Step 3: Just before serving, add the leafy greens.
- Step 4: Toss all the salad ingredients together and serve immediately.
Serving suggestions
This salad with black-eyed peas is a complete meal on its own. It will serve about 4 as a main dish, but 6 or more as a side dish.
To stretch the meal further, try serving it…
With a side of: jalapeño cornbread, sweet maple cornbread, or vegan garlic bread.
On the side of: roasted cauliflower steaks, vegan chicken cutlets, smoky tempeh bacon, or baked tofu.
Storage
Meal prep: The salad dressing can be made 2 to 3 days in advance. You can also mix the dressing with the black eyed peas and vegetables, except the leafy greens, a day ahead of time. Mix in the leafy greens just before serving.
Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. Once the leafy greens are mixed in, they will wilt within a day or two. If you can, store the greens separate from the rest of the salad.
Freezer: This black eyed pea salad without the greens can be frozen for up to 3 months. Please note: the texture will be slightly softer once thawed.
Pro tips and tricks
~ Use canned black eyed peas to make this salad quickly and easily. Be sure to drain them and rinse them well before adding to the salad.
~If cooking the black eyed peas from scratch, I like to cook them in and Instant Pot. Add enough water to cover the beans. Cook on manual for 17 minutes with a 10 minute release.
~ Swap out the vegetables for the ones you like best. Add extra beans or veggies if you wish. You can skip the greens altogether and make this a strictly bean and veggie salad instead.
~ For a stronger flavor, mix the black eyed peas, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, corn, and dressing and let it marinade in the fridge overnight.
~ Stir in the leafy greens just before serving.
~ This dressing is so good! You might want to make a double batch and store leftovers in the fridge. Use it on salads or for drizzling over grains or roasted vegetables.
More vegan bean salad recipes
I hope you love this recipe as much as we do! If you tried it, please use the star rating system in the recipe card and leave a comment with your feedback. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For even more easy family recipes, be sure to check out my cookbook, The Meatless Monday Family Cookbook!
Black Eyed Peas Salad
Ingredients
For the Black Eyed Peas Salad
- 1 can (15 oz)black eyed peas drained and rinsed (or 1 ½ cups cooked black eyed peas
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 1 pint grape tomatoes halved (or quartered if they are on the bigger side)
- ½ English cucumber diced
- 1 cup fresh or thawed frozen corn kernels
- 5-6 cups baby greens I used a mix of kale, chard and spinach
For the Dressing
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¾ teaspoon salt plus more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper or to taste
- dash or two of liquid smoke optional
Instructions
- Whisk all of the dressing ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the black eyed peas, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and corn. Toss well to evenly coat.
- Add the leafy greens and toss to combine.
- Taste and adjust seasoning, as necessary, adding more salt and/or pepper.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition values are calculated using online calculators and are estimates only. Please verify using your own data.
CarolK
This salad was fantastic for our NewYears Day family gathering of 12. Doubled the recipe and decreased the Maple syrup a bit, used fresh corn and a bit of crunchy romaine with the baby power greens. Not a bite left,and everyone asked for the recipe. Thanks Jenn!
Jenn S.
That is so awesome to hear, Carol! Thank you! Happy New Year!!
Mel
This salad looks seriously awesome. All my favourite things and flavours and at this time of year when the food around is so rich and often unhealthy, I find my self craving health, nutritious meals like this.
Jenn S.
Thanks, Mel! I agree!
Melissa | Vegan Huggs
This salad looks so hearty & healthy! I love black eyed peas, and I had no idea they were considered lucky on NYE. I will be making a big salad this year, because I could use all the luck I can get 😉
Jenn S.
Yes, very luck so eat up! 🙂 Thanks, Melissa!
Sarah
My mom’s dad was from Mississippi and they always had black eyed peas and other beans for the New Year! As for those presents that need wrapping—we do them ALL on Christmas Eve while watching junky Christmas movies and drinking eggnog martinis 🙂 Good luck 😉
Jenn S.
You wrap ALL of your presents on Christmas Eve? I couldn’t handle the stress of waiting until the last minute like that. I would for sure need a double martini!! 🙂
Sharon
I never knew that black eyed peas and green are considered ‘lucky foods’. That’s lucky for me as I love both! 😀
Your salad will be perfect for January when I get ‘back on the waggon’ of healthy eating. There are just too many mince pies being offered around at the moment and I can’t resist, especially when friends/family have specifically made a batch of ‘vegan friendly’ pies 😉
Jenn S.
Oh, I totally understand. I plan to enjoy during the holidays too! It doesn’t happen all the time, so why not, right?! Enjoy this salad in the New Year! Thanks, Sharon!
Mary Ellen - VNutrition
I read this as baby “powder” greens – like over and over again and I don’t know why. I finally figured it out lol.
This looks amazing! I think we could all use a little luck in the new year!
Jenn S.
Oh, gosh. Well, I wouldn’t put it past to make a spelling error. It wouldn’t be the first time. LOL! So, glad I didn’t though. Baby powder green would be a whole other thing entirely. 🙂 Thanks, Mary Ellen!
Laura
What a healthy salad idea! Love it!
Jenn S.
Thanks, Laura!
Ginny McMeans
I love love love black eyed peas and now I can have them in a salad. Thank you!
Jenn S.
Yay! They are so good, aren’t they?! Enjoy, Ginny!
Alisa Fleming
I haven’t decided on any resolutions yet, but I think my new year needs to involve this salad. I don’t know if I’ve ever had black-eyed peas and I could use the luck!
Jenn S.
Never? Definitely time to try them out! Thanks, Alisa!
Running in a Skirt
I’m such a fan of the Black Eyed Peas and greens for New Years! Your version looks perfect.
Jenn S.
Thanks, Julie! Crossing my fingers for some luck next year!
Cadry
I have no doubt that a salad like this would bring me some luck. My mouth would be the luckiest! 😀
Jenn S.
HaHa, yes indeed!
Rebecca - Strength and Sunshine
I always have my black eyed peas for the new year! It’s a tradition! (And pomegranate!)
Jenn S.
Yes, pomegranates too…though sadly I rarely buy them. Not sure why. Need to remedy that.
Meeta
I adore Black Eyed peas but I have to admit I would never have thought of using them in a salad. This looks really great and I think I need to try it our.
Jenn S.
Thanks, Meeta. I hope you love them this way too!
Elizabeth
This looks delicious! I’ve heard of black eyed peas for luck, but I admit I’ve never made them myself. After the hot mess that is 2016, I think we could use all the luck we can get in the new year! 🙂
Jenn S.
Oh my gosh, I know. What is going on these days? AND to make matters worse, I feel down my stairs an hour ago and banged up my tailbone, shoulder and elbow. I’m ready for 2017 asap!
Luci's Morsels
I always thought that black eyed peas were boring because they are traditionally served by themselves as a side dish. Now adding them to a salad – that is way more interesting to my palate! I bet they help give this salad some staying power with the extra carbs and fiber. I’m eager to try this out for lunch soon!
Jenn S.
I love black eyed peas on their own too, actually. But, if you don’t, I bet you would love them this way with all the other flavors mingling. Thanks, Luci!