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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!
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Why you'll love this recipe
- fresh, unique way to enjoy black eyed peas
- budget-friendly and customizable
- 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 salad, 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
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.
How to make black eyed pea salad
- Combine cooked peas and chopped vegetables in a mixing bowl.
- Whisk together balsamic vinaigrette ingredients.
- Pour vinaigrette over the entire salad and toss until well combined.
- Cover and refrigerate for up to five days.
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 entrees like broiled salmon or pan-fried pork chops. Of course, it's a welcome addition to any chicken dinner.
Recommended salad recipes
📖 Recipe
Black Eyed Pea Salad
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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.
Equipment
- can opener if using canned beans
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.
JB says
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!
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!
Jill says
Who can't use some extra prosperity every year?! Pinning this to make!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Jill! Hope you love this one like we do! 🙂
Veena Azmanov says
This is so healthy and best for a light Dinner. Looks colorful and tasty too.
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Veena! I love all the colors too...lots of fresh ingredients 🙂
Jacque Hastert says
This would be perfect to serve during the holiday season!
Traci Antonovich says
Yep, it's one of my favorite black eyed peas new years recipes...thanks! 🙂
Marie says
Love the how colourful this salad and all the fresh ingredients. This is great light appetizer or side dish.
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Marie! Yep, super light and super fresh...my fav! 🙂
Jillian says
This is going to be a big hit at my New Year's party! I like the idea of serving it with tortilla chips!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Jillian! Yes...I LOVE it with tortilla chips 🙂
Neriz @ food and journeys says
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 😉
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Neriz! What time is dinner?...be right over! 🙂
Annemarie @ justalittlebitofbacon says
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.
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! 🙂
Jill says
Such a colorful and tasty looking salsa! I don't usually eat black eyed peas but maybe I should start!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Jill! They're packed with ALL the good things 🙂
Lisa Bryan says
A simple and healthy recipes that's perfect for all of spring's outdoor activities!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Lisa, you're so right! 🙂
Alida | Simply Delicious says
Great tips for cooking black eyed peas! And this salsa looks so good, I would totally eat it just as is.
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Alida, I love doing that too! 🙂
Patty @ Spoonabilities says
This sounds so good! What a great appetizer for New Year's!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Patty! It's the perfect appetizer for New Year's, or any season 🙂
Luci says
This looks very delicious. I will have to make this for New Year's day dinner.
Traci Antonovich says
Yay, hope you love it like I do, Luci! It's soooo good 🙂 Happy New Year!
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.
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Ellen! Yep, it's a very versatile recipe...and goes perfect with movie night 🙂
Lisa says
Pass the tortilla chips so I can dig into that salsa! So healthy and bright! Great idea for New Year's Day!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Lisa...perfect for NYD! 🙂 Happy New Year to you, btw!
Veena Azmanov says
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.
Traci Antonovich says
Haha, I know about the old days too 🙂 It's all so convenient now! Thanks for the compliment, btw!