Regional Spiced Sweet Potato and Black Eyed Pea Salad

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-23 · Updated 2026-05-23

A vibrant salad combining roasted sweet potatoes with black eyed peas and a zesty cumin-lime dressing, celebrating flavors popular in the southern United States. This southern us-inspired salads (vegan) ready in about 35 minutes pairs sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed, black eyed peas, cooked, red bell pepper, diced into a side that holds its own next to almost any main — bright, balanced, and quick enough to slot into a weeknight plate. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly next to roasted proteins, grain bowls, or weeknight mains. 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

• 3 cups sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1 1/2 cups black eyed peas, cooked
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1/2 medium red onion, finely chopped
• 1/3 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 3 tbsp lime juice
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 425°F. Toss 3 cups peeled and cubed sweet potatoes with 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast for 25 minutes, turning halfway, until tender and lightly caramelized.
2. Step 2: While sweet potatoes roast, whisk together 1 tbsp olive oil, 3 tbsp lime juice, 1 tsp honey, and a pinch of salt in a large bowl to make the dressing.
3. Step 3: Add 1 1/2 cups cooked black eyed peas, 1 diced red bell pepper, 1/2 finely chopped red onion, and 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves to the bowl. Toss gently to combine.
4. Step 4: When sweet potatoes are done and slightly cooled, add them to the bowl and toss all ingredients together until the salad is evenly coated with the dressing.
5. Step 5: Adjust seasoning with additional salt or lime juice to taste. Serve at room temperature or chilled.