Blackeyed Pea Hummus gives a fun, southern twist to this versatile dish and makes it perfect for a New Years party!
Hummus made from blackeyed peas is super simple to put together and makes a tasty and hearty addition to your appetizer spread. Leave a few of the peas whole to sprinkle on top and your hummus becomes a conversation piece.
Even non blackeyed pea lovers will be amazed how much they love it. Or, keep them guessing by leaving off the whole pea garnish. Either way, it will be a hit with everyone.
Jump to:
What kind of blackeyed peas to use?
I used canned peas for mine. But if you've cooked frozen, dried or fresh blackeyed peas, it makes a great way to use up those leftovers. And just think what a fun New Years dish this will be.
Garnish, garnish, garnish!
The truth is this blackeyed pea version is no prettier than any other hummus. I mean, it just has a "humble" look about it, doesn't it? Kind of makes you wonder if that's where the name came from.
In all cases, a drizzly swirl of extra virgin oil is a mouthwatering addition, and makes it look more interesting. Besides the whole peas I mentioned above, the olive oil and some freshly chopped parsley are all I used to garnish this one above.
Here, I added a few slices of fresh, red pepper from the garden. The beautiful orange bell pepper for dipping adds some bright color to this otherwise plain-jane dish too.
This one has a few slices of fresh jalapeno and a sprinkle of smoked paprika on top. Use your imagination and go wild with those garnishes. This hummus can take anything you can dish out. Promise.
Did you know that blackeyed peas were brought to the south from Africa? Read all about Southern Food Then and Now.
For another fun appetizer with a twist be sure to check out Steak Crostini and Spicy Chorizo Cheese Bites!
This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read our full disclosure policy.
A few things that will come in handy for making your blackeyed pea appetizer dip:
Y'all, I resisted buying a food processor for years, and I don't really know why. Now that I have one, I love it. I'm linking below to several for you to check out, and they're all Amazon four star rated or above.
- Click here for a variety of food processors in all price ranges
- Our favorite tool for juicing citrus (this is my very one)
- Herb Scissors - got to have these if you use a lot of fresh herbs
- Our favorite Cajun spice mix
- Tahini (an essential ingredient in any hummus)
Tips for making:
- You can add the garlic raw, but I think a short visit to a hot skillet of olive oil really brings out the flavor
- don't forget to save out a few whole peas if you want to use them for garnish
- my taste testers preferred a good kick, but you can always leave out the cayenne if you have people who are sensitive to spice
- make it at least a few hours ahead to give the flavors time to blend - a full day ahead is best
- use a good quality olive oil - it makes all the difference
- make it now, and then save the recipe for New Years
📖 Recipe
Blackeyed Pea Hummus
Ingredients
- 30 ounces Blackeyed Peas drained, reserve a few for garnish
- 2-3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil plus more for drizzling
- 1 Tablespoon Tahini
- 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ½ lemon juiced
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning We love Tony Chachere
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper to taste, optional
Instructions
- Brown minced garlic in olive oil over medium heat about one minute to release flavor.
- Process all ingredients in food processor for 2-3 minutes, or until desired smoothness is reached.
- Garnish with whole peas, bright peppers, smoked paprika or chopped fresh herbs.
Chris Collins says
Oh yum! Never thought of putting black eyed peas in hummus but i've totally gotta try it now!!
Pam says
You'll love it, Chris! Thanks.
Stephanie says
I love hummus and have actually tried it with black eyed peas. Need to try your version. Sounds Great!
Pam says
Thank you, Stephanie!
camila says
wow I am going to bookmark this because I want to make some black-eyed pea hummus next!!
Pam says
Hope you love it as much as we do, Camila.
Dana | Mama Needs Cake says
I love black eyed peas but have never had in hummus... it's a must try!
Pam says
I think you'll love it, Dana.
Caroline says
Never tried black eyed peas for hummus but I can see them working so should give it a try.
Pam says
They absolutely do, Caroline. In fact, I like them better than chick peas myself.
Lisa says
Hi you two! I’m pinning this for later. I think this would be awesome to serve anytime, but especially for New Years!
Pam says
Thank you, Lisa! We're definitely putting it on our New Years recipe list too.
Margot says
Normally I don't learn post on blogs, but I would like to say that this
write-up very forced me to take a look at and do so!
Your writing taste has been surprised me. Thanks,
very nice article.
Pam says
Thanks so much for your kind words, Margot!
nell says
as a vegetarian and a Southern cook i am so here for recipes like this!! appreciate yall's creativity + heart for our heritage, keep up the good work!