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Black Eyed Pea Salad

5 from 16 votes
Total 15 minutes
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Black eyed pea salad is a nutritious salad with simple vegetables, savory black eyed peas, and balsamic dressing. It's sweet, savory, healthy, and goes with everything!

black eyed pea salad in white bowl with serving spoon

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Table of Contents hide
1) Why you'll love this recipe
2) Ingredient notes
3) What black eyed peas are best for salad?
4) How to make black eyed pea salad
5) Recipe tips and variations
6) What goes with black eyed pea salad?
7) Recommended salad recipes
8) 📖 Recipe
9) Black Eyed Pea Salad

Why you'll love this recipe

  1. fresh, unique way to enjoy black eyed peas
  2. budget-friendly and customizable
  3. add it to your healthy salad collection

Black eyed pea salad is a quick and easy side dish for any occasion. Fresh, chopped vegetables, tender black eyed peas, and tangy dressing make this chilled legume salad a unique and delicious way to enjoy this nutritious legume.

You'll love that this simple salad uses everyday grocery store ingredients, so it's customizable and budget-friendly. You can use frozen or canned peas for convenience or cook black eyed peas from scratch, which is still a relatively quick method.

If you already love black bean and corn salsa, Greek chickpea salad, or this vegetable quinoa salad, you'll be easily on board with black eyed pea salad.

Ingredient notes

For the salad

  • Black eyed peas - Use frozen, canned, or cooked black eyed peas.
  • Purple cabbage - adds beautiful color and texture
  • Cherry tomatoes - use any variety of tomato
  • Carrots - I like to use baby carrots and dice them small.
  • Green onions - or preferred onion
  • Fresh Italian parsley - use any fresh herbs

For the vinaigrette

  • Balsamic vinegar - Apple cider vinegar pairs nicely with this salad too!
  • Dijon - You can use any mustard for this recipe, but Dijon adds a touch of spice.
  • Honey - Or other liquid sweetener.
  • Extra virgin olive oil - Or preferred salad oil.
  • Salt and pepper - add to taste
vinaigrette being poured over black eyed pea salad ingredients in mixing bowl

What black eyed peas are best for salad?

  • Canned black eyed peas are convenient because they're fully cooked. Simply drain and rinse the peas, and they're ready to use.
  • Frozen black eyed peas are par-cooked and will require a short cooking time using the stove, microwave, or pressure cooker.
  • Dried black eyed peas can be cooked on the stove, in a slow cooker, or in the Instant Pot.
cooked black eyed peas in a pot
cooked black eyed peas being strained in a mesh colander over a glass bowl

How to make black eyed pea salad

  1. Combine cooked peas and chopped vegetables in a mixing bowl.
  2. Whisk together balsamic vinaigrette ingredients.
  3. Pour vinaigrette over the entire salad and toss until well combined.
  4. Cover and refrigerate for up to five days.
black eyed pea salad in grey bowl

Recipe tips and variations

  • If using frozen black eyed peas, follow the package instructions for stove or microwave cooking methods. Allow cooked peas to cool completely before assembling the salad.
  • Black eyed pea salad is delicious when first made and builds even more flavor as it rests a day or two. So, I recommend making ahead for the best flavor results.
  • Use any fresh vegetables for this recipe. I love cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, and green onions because they're available any season and add flavor and texture to this salad.
  • You can use any vinaigrette or Italian dressing with this recipe. I love how the sweet and tart balsamic vinaigrette complements the savory legumes.

What goes with black eyed pea salad?

This sweet and savory legume salad is the perfect side dish for pan-fried pork chops or any chicken dinner.

📖 Recipe

black eyed pea salad in white bowl with serving spoon

Black Eyed Pea Salad

A refreshing black eyed pea salad with chopped vegetables, tender black eyed peas, and balsamic dressing. It's sweet, savory, healthy, and goes with everything!
Prep Time15 minutes
Total time15 minutes
Yield 5 cups
Author Traci
5 from 16 votes
Print Pin it for later 📌

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Note about scaling

When scaling (2x or 3x), the light gray ingredient amount doesn’t scale. Please adjust those accordingly.

Ingredients 

Black eyed pea salad ingredients

  • 2 (15 ounce cans) Black Eyed Peas (drained), or 1 pound frozen (see recipe notes)
  • 1 cup Purple Cabbage, grated
  • 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 large Carrot, diced
  • 1-2 Green Onions, chopped
  • 1 cup Fresh Parsley, chopped

Vinaigrette ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar, or apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
  • 1-2 teaspoons Honey
  • 2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • ¼ teaspoon Sea Salt
  • Black Pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • In a mixing bowl, combine cooked BLACK EYED PEAS, CABBAGE, TOMATOES, GREEN ONION, CARROT, and PARSLEY.
  • In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together VINEGAR, DIJON, HONEY, SALT, and BLACK PEPPER. Drizzle in OLIVE OIL and whisk vigorously until creamy and well-combined.
  • Pour vinaigrette into salad and toss to combine.
  • Cover and refrigerate up to 5 days. Serve chilled.
Did you make this? We'd love your feedback!!Please rate and review it here or below ⤵️

Recipe Notes

  • If using frozen black eyed peas, follow the package instructions for stove or microwave cooking methods. Allow cooked peas to cool completely before assembling salad.
  • Black eyed pea salad is delicious when it's first made and builds even more flavor as it rests a day or two. So, I recommend making ahead for best flavor results.
  • Use any fresh vegetables for this recipe. I love cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, and green onions because they're available any season and add so much flavor and texture to this salad.
  • You can use any vinaigrette or Italian dressing with this recipe. I happen to love how the sweet and tart balsamic vinaigrette complements the savory legumes.

Equipment

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 65kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 131mg | Potassium: 227mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 3781IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition facts are estimates and may vary based on brands, ingredients, and portions.

Course Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine American, Italian
Diet Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
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Traci

About Traci

I’m the recipe author, photographer, and videographer behind The Kitchen Girl food blog established in 2013. I test and share all of my original recipes here so you can make great food with simple ingredients for everyday meals and special occasions.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    5 from 16 votes (1 rating without comment)

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  1. Kathie Adams says

    5 stars
    Delicious, nutritious and easy to make with ingredients I usually have on hand. Checks all the boxes.

    Reply

    • Traci says

      Yay!! I'm thrilled you discovered my recipe and love it as much as we do! Thanks for taking the time to leave this feedback. Enjoy! xoxo

  2. JB says

    5 stars
    This black eyed pea salad is delicious and couldn't be easier. Black eyed peas are not exciting at all LOL, but this salad makes them shine! Another winner KG!

    Reply

  3. Traci Antonovich says

    Yes, we love to make them from scratch b/c they're SO budget-friendly 🙂 Hope you can give this one a go! Cheers!

    Reply

  4. Jill says

    5 stars
    Who can't use some extra prosperity every year?! Pinning this to make!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks Jill! Hope you love this one like we do! 🙂

  5. Veena Azmanov says

    5 stars
    This is so healthy and best for a light Dinner. Looks colorful and tasty too.

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks Veena! I love all the colors too...lots of fresh ingredients 🙂

  6. Jacque Hastert says

    5 stars
    This would be perfect to serve during the holiday season!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Yep, it's one of my favorite black eyed peas new years recipes...thanks! 🙂

  7. Marie says

    5 stars
    Love the how colourful this salad and all the fresh ingredients. This is great light appetizer or side dish.

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks Marie! Yep, super light and super fresh...my fav! 🙂

  8. Jillian says

    5 stars
    This is going to be a big hit at my New Year's party! I like the idea of serving it with tortilla chips!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks Jillian! Yes...I LOVE it with tortilla chips 🙂

  9. Neriz @ food and journeys says

    5 stars
    Very tasty and healthy -- how can anyone say no to that? 🙂 I'm making them with canned peas and tortilla for scooping!!!! And a creme brulee afterwards 😉

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks Neriz! What time is dinner?...be right over! 🙂

  10. Annemarie @ justalittlebitofbacon says

    5 stars
    I love bean salads and I usually make mine with black beans so now I need to try your version with black eyed peas since it looks so tasty! Also, I really have to try the dry bean baking method since I'm sure freshly cooked black eyed peas would be amazing.

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks Annemarie! I love bean salads too, so this one is always a hit! And freshly cooked BEP's...all the way! 🙂

  11. Jill says

    5 stars
    Such a colorful and tasty looking salsa! I don't usually eat black eyed peas but maybe I should start!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks Jill! They're packed with ALL the good things 🙂

  12. Lisa Bryan says

    5 stars
    A simple and healthy recipes that's perfect for all of spring's outdoor activities!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks Lisa, you're so right! 🙂

  13. Alida | Simply Delicious says

    5 stars
    Great tips for cooking black eyed peas! And this salsa looks so good, I would totally eat it just as is.

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks Alida, I love doing that too! 🙂

  14. Patty @ Spoonabilities says

    5 stars
    This sounds so good! What a great appetizer for New Year's!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks Patty! It's the perfect appetizer for New Year's, or any season 🙂

  15. Luci says

    This looks very delicious. I will have to make this for New Year's day dinner.

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Yay, hope you love it like I do, Luci! It's soooo good 🙂 Happy New Year!

  16. Ellen says

    Love the idea of this as a burrito filling. I know I could sit with some chips and this salsa on movie night too.

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks Ellen! Yep, it's a very versatile recipe...and goes perfect with movie night 🙂

  17. Lisa says

    5 stars
    Pass the tortilla chips so I can dig into that salsa! So healthy and bright! Great idea for New Year's Day!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks Lisa...perfect for NYD! 🙂 Happy New Year to you, btw!

  18. Veena Azmanov says

    5 stars
    I love black eyes peas and this sounds so refreshing. It's amazing how easy it is to just buy these in a can or frozen now - my mom would always make from scratch so she'd have to plan ahead.

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Haha, I know about the old days too 🙂 It's all so convenient now! Thanks for the compliment, btw!