Pick over black eyed peas removing any bad beans and debris.
Soak beans in 4 cups of cold water enough to fully cover beans for 8 hours or overnight.
Saute' Your Onions and Garlic
Heat vegan butter or oil in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until melted. Add onions to a skillet and cook until softened for 5 to 7 minutes.
Stir in fresh garlic and 1 teaspoon Cajun Seasoning Mix and fully coat onions and garlic for about 60 seconds.
Remove from heat.
Add Ingredients to Your Slow Cooker
Transfer cooked onions and garlic into slow cooker.
Next, pour in vegetable stock, 1 cup of water, liquid smoke, and soaked black eyed peas into your slow cooker.
Cover and cook on high for 6 hours until peas are tender. (9 hours on low).
After 6 hours, stir in kale, sweet potatoes, 1 ½ tablespoon of Cajun Seasoning Mix, ½ teaspoon liquid smoke, dried bay leaves (optional), and sea salt.
Cover and cook on high for an additional 1 ½ - 2 hours.
Turn off slow cooker and let soup cool. Pull out bay leaves, and serve.
Video
Notes
The Cajun Seasoning Mix really gives this recipe a ton of flavor! DO NOT skip! (You can use store bought cajun seasoning if you desire).
Don't skip the liquid smoke. It gives this meal a smokiness you would normally get from smoked meat.
If you don't like kale, you can substitute with collard greens, turnips, mustard greens, or a mixture of greens!
Pinto beans would also work perfectly with this dish!
You can use kohlrabi, white potatoes, or turnips instead of sweet potatoes if you desire.
This recipe will keep in the refrigerator for 4-5 days and in the freezer for about 1 month.
I would caution against lowering the amount of salt (unless you have a medical issue that requires you to do so).You don't want bland soup and we are cooking a LARGE number of beans.
Stove Top Directions
You will need to pre-cook your beans first if you are doing it over a stove.
Sort and soak your beans as stated above. Then add 6 -8 cups of water to a large pot and bring to a boil.
Cook your black-eyed peas on low heat for 1 ½ - 2 hours until beans are tender.
Or you can use 2 BPA free organic black-eyed peas in a can to save time.
Proceed with recipe as follows:
Heat vegan butter or oil in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until melted. Add onions to the skillet and cook until softened for 5 to 7 minutes.
Stir in fresh garlic and Cajun Seasoning Mixand fully coat onions and garlic for about 60 seconds.
Next add broth, water, liquid smoke, kale, sweet potatoes, and cooked black-eyed peas to a large pot. Turn down low and simmer for about 30 minutes covered.
Optional: After 30 minutes take a cup of the bean mixture and pour in a blender. Blend for a few seconds and add back to the pot and simmer for 10 more minutes.This makes it more creamy.
Turn off and let cool. Serve with vegan cornbread, rice, or salad.