Georgia Sweet Potato and Black-Eyed Pea Stew

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-16 · Updated 2026-06-16

A hearty stew combining sweet potatoes and black-eyed peas with smoky spices, inspired by Georgia's regional comfort foods. This American-inspired vegan recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 70 minutes, pairs dried black-eyed peas, water, sweet potatoes for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried black-eyed peas
• 4 cups water
• 2 medium (about 1 lb), peeled and diced 1-inch sweet potatoes
• 1 large, diced yellow onion
• 4 minced garlic cloves
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 3 cups vegetable broth
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 1 cup dried black-eyed peas and soak them in water overnight or for at least 6 hours. Drain and rinse again.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 large diced yellow onion and sauté for 5 minutes until softened and translucent.
3. Step 3: Add 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp ground cumin, and 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes to the pot. Cook while stirring for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Step 4: Add the soaked black-eyed peas, 3 cups vegetable broth, 4 cups water, and 2 diced medium sweet potatoes (about 1 lb peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes). Stir well.
5. Step 5: Bring the stew to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover. Cook for 45-50 minutes until the peas are tender and sweet potatoes are soft.
6. Step 6: Season with 1 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Remove from heat and stir in 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro.
7. Step 7: Serve hot with crusty bread or over rice for a filling vegetarian meal.