Economical Side Dishes: How to Cook Black Eyed Peas

This world economic crisis has affected a lot of peoples eating habits. One place people are trying to save money is in their food budget. Dried bean dishes are a great way to make your dollar go farther and be more economical in the kitchen. Beans add protein and healthy fiber to your meals, and the extra protein allows you to serve smaller portions of expensive meats. One of my favorite side dishes is black eyed peas, and I have a very good, healthy, and economical way of cooking them.

Black eyed peas for 8
1 tbsp oil
1 mid sized onion, finely chopped
½ green bell pepper, finely chopped (optional)
1 tsp basil
1 tsp garlic powder or 1 minced clove
1 bay leaf
2 bacon flavored bouillon cubes (if bacon is unavailable, substitute beef)
500 grams (16 oz) dried black eyed peas
3 liters (3 quarts) water
2 tbsp tomato paste
Salt/pepper to taste

1) Place the oil in a large stock or stew pot. Add the chopped onion (and green pepper if you choose) and sauté until it starts to soften.
2) Drop in the basil, garlic and bay leaf, and let it all cook together another 2 or 3 minutes.
3) Crumble the bouillon cubes. Add ¼ cup of your water to the onion mixture in the pot, then add the crumbled cubes and stir until dissolved.
4) Add the black eyed peas and the rest of the water.
5) Cover tightly and bring it all to a boil.
6) Reduce heat to a simmer

Let it cook for about 3 hours, checking that the water doesn't get too low - add a little more if you need to. At this point, add a couple tablespoons of tomato paste. This adds some flavor and thickens the juice a little. (That's what makes it so good on top of rice) Stir it in and THEN taste - maybe you'll need more salt. And some black pepper. Your black eyed peas should be done cooking at this point, but you can let them cook a little longer if you'd like them 'mushier'.

Some side points:
Some people may call me out for not using real bacon, salt pork or other meat for flavoring my black eyed peas. But I find the bouillon works well, doesn't add fat and is more economical than buying meat - and the point here is to try to save a little money in the kitchen.

If you're vegetarian, you can use vegetable bouillon cubes for flavor.

Serve alongside meat and rice, or just with rice for a vegetarian meal.

Optionally top it with some chopped raw onion or Louisiana hot sauce. Or if you're like my mom, use some ketchup. Anyway, it's good, y'all. Eat it up!