Spiced Black-Eyed Pea Stew with Collard Greens

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-28 · Updated 2026-04-28

A hearty African-inspired stew featuring tender black-eyed peas simmered with smoky spices and vibrant collard greens. This african-inspired vegan (gluten free) ready in about 85 minutes pairs dried black-eyed peas, water, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 210 calories and feeds 4, 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 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 3 cups fresh collard greens, chopped
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 1 cup dried black-eyed peas and soak them in water for 6 hours or overnight. Drain and rinse before cooking.
2. Step 2: In a large pot, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add 1 medium diced yellow onion and 4 minced garlic cloves, sautéing for 5 minutes until the onion is translucent and fragrant.
3. Step 3: Stir in 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp ground cumin, and 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, cooking for 1 minute until the spices release their aroma.
4. Step 4: Add the soaked black-eyed peas, 2 tbsp tomato paste, 2 cups vegetable broth, and 4 cups water to the pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes until peas are tender.
5. Step 5: Stir in 3 cups chopped fresh collard greens, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Simmer uncovered for an additional 15 minutes until the greens are wilted and tender.
6. Step 6: Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve warm as a nourishing, flavorful stew.