How to Cook Southern Zipper Peas With Bacon

By: Brynne Chandler

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Southern zipper peas are of the genus Vigna unguiculata, so they're beans, not peas. Zipper peas, like black-eye peas and and crowder peas, and a type of bean known collectively as field peas or cowpeas, relatively quick-cooking beans that don't need a presoak before cooking. For centuries a staple of Southern cookery, zipper peas are freshest in the early summer and into the fall, and are generally sold in their pods. Zipper peas cook up tender and creamy, but even fresh ones are dry enough to require a bit of fat such as bacon drippings to help bring out their soft texture and delicate taste.

Step 1

Place all of the peas in a colander and rinse them well. Shake off the excess water. Unzip the peas if they are still in their pods by grasping the fiber at one end and pulling it down the spine of the pea pod. Let the peas fall into a bowl and discard the pods. Sort the peas and discard any discolored peas or field pebbles if you purchased them loose.

Step 2

Cut bacon into small pieces with a chef’s knife or kitchen shears. Place the pieces in a cold saucepan and turn the heat to medium. Add smashed garlic and minced onion to the bacon as it cooks for a more flavorful dish. Proportions are entirely up to you. Cook the bacon, stirring it frequently, until it is crisp and brown.

Step 3

Add the zipper peas to the bacon and stir them to coat them thoroughly in the drippings.

Step 4

Pour enough water into the saucepan to cover the peas and bacon, plus 1 to 2 inches more. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat. Skin off any foam that appears with a slotted spoon. You may have to do this more than once.

Step 5

Season the pot generously with salt and pepper. Add thyme and lemon juice for a deeper and tangier flavor.

Step 6

Cover the pot and turn the heat down to medium. Cook the peas for 40 to 45 minutes. Check the water level frequently and stir in more if the level drops below the top of the peas.

Step 7

Drain the peas when they are tender, if they have not absorbed all of the liquid. Add a scant pat of butter and taste to correct the salt. Undersalted peas will have a slightly sharp taste as though they are not quite ripe, but adding salt will correct this.