Vegan Black Eyed Peas Hoppin John

Kitchen equipment for soul food Hoppin John in the Instant Pot

• Instant Pot electric pressure cooker

Ingredients for Black folks’ soul food black-eyed peas and collard greens

• 1 pound of dried black-eyed peas
• 6 cups of chicken stock (use vegetable stock for vegans & vegetarians)
• 1 cup of diced red onion
• 2 cloves of minced garlic
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika
• ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes
• ½ a teaspoon of dried thyme
• 2 teaspoons of chicken bouillon (vegans & vegetarians use a Creole seasoning)
• 1 ½ teaspoon of salt
• 1 teaspoon of black pepper 
• 1 cup of collard greens, finely chopped, fresh, or pre-cooked 
• ¼ cup of green onion, chopped to garnish (optional)

Instructions for Black folks’ soul food black-eyed peas and collard greens

1. Open the Instant Pot lid and pour the chicken stock into the stainless-steel inner pot.  
2. Add the black-eyed peas, onion, garlic, bay leaf, paprika, red pepper flakes, thyme, chicken bouillon, salt, pepper, and collards.
3. Stir the ingredients to combine. 
4. Make sure the beans are soaking and covered in the liquid broth.
5. Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 15 minutes.
6. When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 10 minutes.
7. To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
8. Remove the bay leaf, transfer the black-eyed peas to an air-tight container, and set them aside. Or if you’re extra (like me!) and have more than one Instant Pot, keep the black-eyed peas in the Instant Pot on the ‘keep warm’ setting.
9. The next step is to wash out the inner pot or use a second Instant Pot to make the rice.

Ingredients for Black folks’ soul food Hoppin John rice 

• 2 cups of white rice
• 2 cups of chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• ¼ teaspoon of black pepper

Instructions for Black folks’ soul food Hoppin John rice 

1. Add the rice, chicken broth, salt, and pepper to the Instant Pot stainless steel inner pot.
2. Stir to mix the ingredients and make sure the rice is covered in the liquid.
3. Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is in the sealing position – up) and pressure cook on high for 4 minutes.
4. When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 2 minutes.
5. To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
6. Fluff the rice with a fork.
7. Use a large serving spoon to combine the set aside black-eyed peas with the cooked rice.
8. Mix well and then serve Black folks soul food Hoppin John right away.
9. Optionally, garnish with chopped green onion, serve, and enjoy!