22 Ways With Summer-Fresh Field Peas

Lucky Black-Eyed Pea Salad
Photo: Jennifer Davick

Though we still indulge in our favorite Southern side casseroles throughout the summer—hello, Old-School Squash Casserole—we also like to make the most of the fresher-than-fresh bounty that can be found at the farmers' market, the local farmstand, your garden, and even the grocery store. And when it comes to summer side dishes made the Southern way, you really can't go wrong with fresh field peas flavored with ham hock, paired with tomatoes, made into a melty dip, or thrown into a pasta salad.

So step outside the casserole dish this season with one of these super delicious summer pea recipes, starting with a smoky field pea dip and following up with everything from Lady Pea Salad to Classic Hoppin' John. With so many varieties, the options are endless.

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Lemon Vinaigrette Pasta Salad with Field Peas

Lemon Vinaigrette Pasta Salad with Field Peas
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Recipe: Lemon Vinaigrette Pasta Salad with Field Peas

This lemony pasta salad with field peas will be your new favorite side dish to serve all summer long.

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Classic Fresh Field Peas

Classic Fresh Field Peas
Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Classic Fresh Field Peas

Smoky ham hocks enrich any broth, and in this case yields a delicious pot of field peas. If you're adventurous, try smoking your own hocks—they will yield roughly double what you'll get from the store-bought stuff.

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Classic Hoppin' John

Classic Hoppin’ John
Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Mary-Claire Britton

Recipe: Classic Hoppin' John

Traditionally, Hoppin' John is a one pot recipe, but you'll be happy to use our two pot method once you see how tender and delicious it turns out. Everything else about this recipe remains classic, from the rice to the peas.

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Smoky Field Pea Hummus

Smoky Field Pea Hummus
Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Smoky Field Pea Hummus

Trust us, this will be your new go-to summer dip. Use any legume you like.

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Field Pea Fattoush Salad

Field Pea Fattoush Salad
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Recipe: Field Pea Fattoush Salad

Made with toasted pita instead of croutons or cornbread, this panzanella-esque salad is filled with all the good stuff, like heirloom cherry tomatoes, cucumber, fresh field peas, chopped romaine, and mint.

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Southwest Black-Eyed Pea Dip

Southwest Black-Eyed Pea Dip
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christina Lane; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Southwest Black-Eyed Pea Dip

This is a melty party dip worth celebrating—and everyone else will want to get in on the good times, too.

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Southern Cobb Salad with Cornbread Croutons

Southern Cobb Salad with Cornbread Croutons
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Southern Cobb Salad with Cornbread Croutons

This Southern spin on the classic cobb adds cornbread croutons and black-eyed peas into the mix. Don't worry, there's still plenty of bacon and bleu cheese piled on as well.

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Reunion Pea Casserole

Reunion Pea Casserole
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Reunion Pea Casserole

We call this a "grandma-approved casserole." Because it's packed with all of her favorite things, like sausage, cheese, squash, peas, and—of course—butter.

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Field Pea and Pasta Salad

Field Pea and Pasta Salad
Greg DuPree

Recipe: Field Pea and Pasta Salad

Farfalle and fresh veggies make a delicious summer side. Mix the dressing up to three days in advance; then toss when ready to serve. We like using mini farfalle in this recipe so that all of the ingredients are about the same size, but swap in any pasta shape you like.

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Marinated Field Pea Relish

Chicken With Field Pea Relish
Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen

Recipe: Marinated Field Pea Relish

Spice up your next barbecue with this versatile condiment. Perfect for anything fried, grilled, or fresh from the garden—it's just that good and easy; no special jars or canning required.

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Lucky Black-Eyed Pea Salad

Lucky Black-Eyed Pea Salad
Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Lucky Black-Eyed Pea Salad

Peppery watercress fills in for traditional greens—while fresh peaches, cilantro, and black-eyed peas add extra flair.

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Hoppin' John Salad

Hoppin' John Salad
Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Hoppin' John Salad

Try this fresh take on Hoppin' John with fresh mint, parsley, and jalapeño peppers. It's the perfect side for any summer dish.

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Field Pea Salad with Tomatoes and Feta

Field Pea Salad with Tomatoes and Feta
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Recipe: Field Pea Salad with Tomatoes and Feta

This salad uses fresh lady peas or purple hull peas, but feel free to use your favorite variety of field pea. Try to source field peas locally if you can, visit the farmers markets and farm stands where you'll often find them pre-shelled.

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Easy Black-Eyed Peas

Easy Black-Eyed Peas
Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Easy Black-Eyed Peas

This recipe can be made using dried, fresh, or frozen peas. Make sure to season that broth well, because if your broth is tasty, your beans will be too.

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Summer Hoppin' John Salad

Summer Hoppin' John Salad
Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Summer Hoppin' John Salad

A New Year's tradition, Hoppin' John is usually served hot, but this cool salad is perfect for a summer picnic or lunch, or as a side salad for grilled meats. Feel free to sub your favorite cooked whole grain instead of rice.

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Field Pea, Corn, and Bacon Salad

Field Pea, Corn, and Bacon Salad
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele

Recipe: Field Pea, Corn, and Bacon Salad

All the flavors of summer in a salad. Serve this bright and light recipe as a side dish alongside grilled shrimp, chicken, or steak or make it a main dish by tossing in a few handfuls of mixed baby greens.

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Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas

Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas
Photography and Styling: Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas

Once you try this method, you'll never go back to the stovetop. This recipe uses dried peas, which take hours to cook traditionally, but with the help of an Instant Pot, can be ready to serve in under an hour.

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Seared Steak-and-Field Pea Salad

Seared Steak-and-Field Pea Salad
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Seared Steak-and-Field Pea Salad

A cast-iron skillet does double duty in this recipe, as both the perfect vehicle for searing the steak and charring the vegetables. The lightly charred corn and bell peppers are a smoky addition to the light, bright field pea salad.

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Lady Pea Salad

lady pea salad
Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

Recipe: Lady Pea Salad

You'll want to find Lady Peas for this salad. Other kinds of field peas won't be as mild or creamy, which is exactly what this bright summery salad needs. If you can't find Lady Peas, Purple Hull, Zipper, or Pink Eye varieties will also work.

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Chili-Roasted Black Eyed Peas

Chili-Roasted Black Eyed Peas
Southern Living

Recipe: Chili-Roasted Black Eyed Peas

The ideal crunchy, spicy, and salty snack to enjoy with a cold beer. Get creative and use this recipe to add texture to a salad or as a delicious soup topping.

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Texas Caviar

Texas Caviar
Southern Living

Recipe: Texas Caviar

Our take on this classic adds green tomatoes for a bright, citrusy bite. And the dressing couldn't be any easier, just crack open a bottle of your favorite Italian dressing.

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Black-Eyed Pea and Grain Salad

Black-Eyed Pea and Grain Salad
Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kaye E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Black-Eyed Pea and Grain Salad

Ancient grains, like the bulgar used in this salad, add a heartiness and texture to many dishes without adding weight or bulk. Dressed in a spicy vinaigrette and loaded with vegetables, this side is as delicious as it is healthy.

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All About Field Peas

All About Field Peas
Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

For tips on buying, freezing, and cooking with field peas, read our Guide to Summer-Fresh Field Peas

Nothing says summer like fresh field peas from the farmer's market. Be sure to snap up these favorite recipes for Hoppin' John, Succotash, and Black-Eyed Pea Salad.

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