Black-eyed peas, a member of the legume family, have a pale cream color and a distinctive black spot resembling an eye. They are thought to have originated in North Africa, where they have been eaten for centuries, and were probably introduced to North America by Spanish explorers and enslaved people from Africa. They are now grown throughout the world and have become a much-loved food, especially in American Southern cooking, and with good reason: They are delicious, easy to prepare, and come in a variety of forms. Read on to learn about the great little black-eyed pea, which might well become a favorite of yours too.
