In the South, black-eyed pea salad is also known as Mississippi Caviar. I’ve added some cooked shrimp to make this quick lunch or light dinner salad. Black-eyed peas are a small beige bean that have a black circle at their inner curve and were originally imported for livestock feed.
Helpful hints
• Frozen or canned black-eyed peas can be used. Be sure to rinse the canned ones. I prefer to use frozen black-eyed peas. They have an excellent texture and flavor and work well in this recipe.
• Buy peeled cooked shrimp frozen or from the seafood counter.
• Any type of lettuce can be used.
Countdown
• Cook black-eyed peas.
• Assemble salad.
• Prepare fruit.
Shopping list
1 red bell pepper, 1 small head read leaf lettuce, 2 medium peaches, 6 ounces peeled, cooked shrimp, 1 8-ounce package frozen black-eyed peas or 2 cans black eyed peas.
Staples: Red onion, oil and vinegar dressing, hot pepper sauce, whole wheat bread, salt and black peppercorns.
Shrimp and Black-Eyed Pea Salad
1 8-oz. package frozen black-eyed peas (1 1/2 cups) or 1 1/2 cups canned black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
2 Tbsp. oil and vinegar salad dressing
1/2 cup diced red onion
Several drops hot pepper sauce
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
6 oz. peeled cooked shrimp
Several red lettuce leaves, rinsed and dried
2 slices whole wheat bread
Bring a medium saucepan half filled with water to a boil. Add the black-eyed peas, cover with a lid and cook 15 minutes or until the peas are soft. Or, place in a microwave-safe bowl with 2 tablespoons water and microwave on high 5 minutes. (Omit this step if using canned black-eyed peas.) Place dressing in a medium-size mixing bowl and add onion, hot pepper sauce and salt and pepper to taste. Drain black-eyed peas and add to dressing with red bell pepper and shrimp. Toss well. Taste for seasoning. Add more salt, pepper or hot pepper sauce to taste. Line 2 dinner plates with lettuce leaves and spoon salad on top. Serve with whole wheat bread. Makes 2 servings.
Per serving: 423 calories, 11 g fat, 2 g saturated fat, 165 mg cholesterol, 32 g protein, 50 g carbohydrates, 20 g dietary fiber, 7 g sugars, 430 mg sodium.
Exchanges/Choices: 3 starch, 1 vegetable, 3 lean meat, 1 1/2 fat.
Dessert
2 medium peaches
Serve 1 peach per person.
Per serving: 38 calories, 0.2 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 1 g protein, 9 g carbohydrates, 1 g dietary fiber, 8 g sugars, 0 mg sodium.
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