Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas and Ham

Did you know that eating black eyed peas on the first day of the New Year is thought to bring good luck and prosperity?

This Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas Recipe has the perfect balance of a spicy kick that is filled out with a salty heartiness. If you ask us, good luck and prosperity has never tasted better!

Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas with Ham

For my family, eating black eyed peas with ham, over rice, and served with collard greens is a New Years Day tradition we never forget.

Related Post: How to Make the Perfect Instant Pot Rice

In addition to the black eyed peas being said to bring luck and prosperity, a side serving of collard greens (the color of money) is said to bring wealth.

Black eyed peas are a favorite legume in New Year traditions around the globe.

Originating in Africa, black eyed peas made their way into Judea traditions such as Rosh Hashanah and eventually in to Southern kitchens as a way to honor slave culinary traditions.

This heat loving crop was able to thrive during times of food insecurity whether from droughts or war. Because of this black eyed peas are seen as a food of fortune – providing sustenance during hardship.

In the US, black eyed peas impacted the diets of enslaved Africans and white southerners during the Civil War. Although seen at the time as a poor man’s food, black eyed peas soon became a more common and viewed as a blessing.

The tradition of black eyed peas to this day is still persistent in the Southern states while also present in some Northern areas due to the Great Migration.

Alrighty y’all, enough history, let’s get cooking!

Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas and Ham Recipe

Serves 12

Ingredients

  • 16 ounce bag of dried black-eyed peas
  • 1 ham hock
  • 10 ounce can diced tomatoes with jalapeños (or hot Rotel)
  • 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes with mild green chilies
  • 32 ounces chicken broth
  • 1 stalk celery, chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Add all ingredients to the pressure cooker.
  2. Turn pressure valve to sealed.
  3. Set a manual high-pressure time for 30 minutes.
  4. Allow for a slow pressure release at the end of the cook time.
  5. Stir, serve and enjoy!

If you aren’t making these black eyed peas with ham in your Instant Pot right this second then pin this post so you can easily find it later!

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