Slow Cooker Indian-Style Black Eyed Peas with Coconutty Green Beans

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I love slow cooking on occasion with recipes that really hold up well in my Crock-Pot. I’m usually inspired on mornings when I have a little time on my hands (like an extra 20 minutes to prep the ingredients and wash the dishes utilized), and I know my night will be either super busy, or one where I want to just sit back, relax, and worry little about cooking.

These Slow Cooked Indian-style black-eyed peas hold up really well in a Crock Pot! They are vegan, delicious, and just the right amount of spicy. The coconutty green beans on the side are an added bonus (nearly as good as your Christmas bonus each year), and perfect served with steamed jasmine rice and naan (if you have the calorie budget for it). I ran 9 miles this morning, so my plate was pretty full, but from my estimated dietitian guess, I think this whole platter has less than 650 calories. So plan this next week on one of your less busy mornings, if you get a chance, so that you have a little less cooking to do than usual in the evening.

Slow Cooker Indian-Style Black Eyed Peas with Coconut Green Beans

Hands on Time: 30 Minutes
Total Time: 7 Hours
Serves 8-10

Black-Eyed Peas
2 medium tomatoes
3 cups dried black-eyed peas
4 medium serrano chilis, halved
4 garlic cloves, peeled
1 large yellow onion, peeled and quartered
1 2-inch piece ginger, peeled and quartered
2 tbsp salt
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp turmeric
2 tbsp ground coriander
1 tbsp light brown sugar
8 cups water
1 14 oz can unsweetened coconut milk (light if preferred)
1/4 bunch cilantro, leaves roughly chopped, for garnish
Steamed jasmine rice, to serve (optional)
Naan, to serve (optional)

Coconutty Green Beans
2 tbsp olive oil
1/3 cup white onion, chopped
1 bunch fresh French-cut green beans
1.5 tsp salt
1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1 tbsp turmeric
1/2 tsp cayenne chili powder

Directions
Heat a large pot of water over high heat and bring to a boil. Meanwhile, prepare an ice-water bath. Cut an X on the bottom of each tomato and add to water, boiling for about 45-60 seconds, until fully blanched, and skins appear loose. Add tomatoes to ice-water bath and peel and quarter when cool.

In a food processor, combine tomatoes, serranos, garlic, onion, and ginger and process to a fine paste.

Spread out black eyed peas on a large cookie sheet or platter and sort through. Add to colander and wash thoroughly.

Add black-eyed peas, onion-chili paste, salt, cumin, turmeric, coriander, and sugar to a 5-quart slow cooker. Pour water over and cook on high for 6 hours. Test for doneness, add coconut milk, and keep warm (or cook a little longer on high, uncovered, if needed) while preparing remaining ingredients.

Prepare green beans by adding olive oil to a medium skillet or dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion and saute for 5-6 minutes, until soft. Stir in green beans, cover, and cook for 10 more minutes.

Remove lid from skillet and add shredded coconut, salt, turmeric, and cayenne. Add additional olive oil if needed, stir occasionally, and saute for 10 minutes, until greens are tender and dark green.

Ladle black-eyed peas over rice with green beans and naan on the side.