#Flashback Friday with these WWFreestyle Zer Point Slow Cooker Beans. Ever since our Day Trip to Savannah, Georgia to visit Mrs. Wilkes, The Husband and I have wanted to recreate some of the delicious Southern Foods we fell in LOVE with there. The first thing we decided to try was her creamy, smoky, black eyed peas. I am sure it was the bacon and the bacon grease that made her Black Eyed Peas amazing. I decided to “healthify” the Black Eyed Peas I was making by using a smoked ham hock and letting them slow cook all day long to absorb that sweet, hickory bacon flavor.
I thought about adding in some bacon as the end for a finishing touch, but, when it came down to it, the Black Eyed Peas had so much flavor, you didn’t need it. I know, I am surprised I actually passed up on adding bacon to something too LOL.
These beans make the perfect Southern Side Dish next to Healthy “Fried” Chicken or make them a meal and serve them up with steamed Collard greens.
SLOW COOKER BLACK EYED PEAS (print it!)
INGREDIENTS
- 1 lb black eyed peas
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 carrot, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 ham hock or shank
- 1 bay leaf
- 6 cups water
- 1 chicken bouillon cube
- Season to taste with sea salt, black pepper and a few dashes of hot sauce
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Cover beans with 6-8 cups of water and soak over night or quick soak. To quick soak, cover beans with 6 cups of water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, cover and remove from heat. Allow to sit for 2 hours. Drain and rinse.
2. Spray a large stock pot with nonstick spray and heat over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, carrot and garlic. Sauté for 5 minutes or until the vegetables are soft.
3. Add getable mixture, ham hock, bay leaf, beans, water and bouillon to your slow cooker. Cook on low for 7-8 hours or until beans are tender.
4. Remove ham hock. If you would like to include the ham off the bone, dice into pieces and return to ham to the slow cooker. Season to taste with sea salt, black pepper and dashes of hot sauce. Scoop beans into a large bowl and add desired amount of “broth”. Dig in and enjoy!
Makes 12, 1/2 cup servings, 0 WWFreestyle Smartpoints without ham and 1 Smartpoint with ham, 3 points+ each with the diced ham from the ham hock
Nutritional information per 1/2 cup serving with the diced ham from the ham hock
Nutritional information per 1/2 cup serving without the diced ham from the ham hock
STEP – BY – STEP
Soak your beans over night or quick soak as described above. Drain an rinse.
Sauté the onion, celery, carrot and garlic in nonstick over medium heat until softened, about 5 minutes.
The “secret” ingredient for getting that rich, sweet, smoky bacon flavor without the bacon!
Layer up everything in the crock pot. Veggies, ham shank…..
Beans, bay leaf and bouillon.
Add water, cover and cook in your slow cooker/crock pot on low for 7-8 hours or until beans are tender.
Remove ham hock. If you would like to include the ham off the bone, dice into pieces and return to ham to the slow cooker. Season to taste with sea salt, black pepper and dashes of hot sauce. Scoop beans into a large bowl and add desired amount of “broth”.
Dig in and enjoy!
I wanted to make sure I shared this recipe as I mentioned on Sunday. You can use any leftovers to make “Black Eyed Pea” Burgers and/or make one fantastic veggie dip by mashing some up.
Keeping up with our 100% tracking challenge, here is how yesterday went down:
- B ~ 1 hard boiled egg (2), 1 1/2 cup fruit salad ~ banana, grapes, melon, pineapple (0)
- S ~ Grande FF Decaf Latte (3)
- L ~ Turkey Burger (4), 100% Whole Wheat Thin Bun (3), lettuce, tomato, onion, 1 Tbsp “secret sauce” (1), Spicy Peanut Asian Slaw (1)
- S ~ 1/4 cup trail mix (5)
- D ~ salad with 1 Tbsp ranch on the side (3), 1 c pasta with meat sauce (7), 1 pesto breadstick (5)
- Total ~ 34 Daily Points+
OK ~ Your Turn, what was on your tracker yesterday?
Have a FANTASTIC Friday ~ I will catch up with you later!
The black eyed peas look delicious! I might try making your recipe with pinto beans- I bet it would still be great.
I was thinking the same thing about the pinto beans.
I’m going to use a smoked turkey leg.
B – Banana (2pp), Yogurt (3pp)
S – Apple (0pp)
L – Butter Bean, Sausage & Kale Soup (5pp)
S – Raw veggies w/dressing (2pp)
D – Tofurkey Wrap (7pp), Raw veggies w/buffalo chick dip (2pp)
S – Sundae (5pp)
Total: 26
Having a good week, staying OP!!!
Hey, might help you get a little more for your money, but bananas are 0 pp… ALL fruits are! 🙂
I love, love black eyed peas…and cornbread! Add cabbage or turnip greens and that’s what I grew up with at my grandparents’ house. Just have to portion it out!
here is yesterdays!!
B- Chocolate Chip banana single (3) I know but they are so good!! 🙂 apple slices
L- I took the kids to Panera , I went with the pick 2…I chose 1 cup of chicken noodle (2)
and the half of Thai chicken chopped salad (6)..OMG it was the best lunch ever, the salad had just the right amount of spice!! I looked up on there web page when I got nome and figured out my points.
S- Chocolate chip single (3)
D- Turkey white bean chili 1 cup (5) I measured out a 1/4 cup of FF shredded cheese but only used 1/2 the amount (1) 1 tbspn greek yogurt , 1 2inch square of corn bread (3) yes I measured it!!! LOL
S- skinny cow cookies n cream bar (3)
total: 26
MMMMM….I love cooking with Ham hocks…I use them in bean soup and in split pea soup and in black eyed peas too! they put so much smokey flavor into the dish. I generally just pitch it when it’s done cooking…they’re pretty cheap so I don’t feel bad just using them for flavor. Your dish looks amazing! I want to try my hand at authentic Charleston shrimp and grits someday. I dream of that dish! 🙂
I’ve never tried black eyed peas but the recipe sounds delic [and super healthy]! Would be great for a cool winter night…
Well…..I blew the points system off the charts yesterday. We had a farewell breakfast at work for a coworker who’s moving to another state. I had every intention of keeping it under control. But the selections were too great. I stopped counting after the chocolate donut.
I did spend 30 minutes on the treadmill when I got home. But then we went out to dinner (we never go out to dinner!). I had a grilled chicken sandwich and only ate half. I did have a few french fries too. The day was already shot, so I didn’t even try to count the points.
Today is a new day and I will start over! I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!
I’m changing my e-mail address. Could you please send me confirmation. Thanks
HI Judy,
I can confirm that your new email address is now subscribed. Thanks for letting me know.
Danica
I have eaten black eyed peas for 50 years. I made this recipe today and I have to say they are the best I have ever eaten. Will be making these time and time again! Thank you!!!
Wow, Toni! That is such a compliment. Thank you so much for letting me know you enjoyed the Black Eyed Peas
Danica
How did your first day of “bean counting” go? And how appropriate that you made beans. 🙂