Purple hull peas are an irresistibly tasty vegetable, ideal for freezing for later consumption. Although blanching must take place prior to freezing, the process should be straightforward.
Fill a blanching pot with boiling water and bring to a boil, blanch the frozen frozen peas for two minutes in boiling water, before immediately placing them into an ice water bath to cool.
Blanching
Purple hull peas (sometimes known as Southern or cowpeas) are an incredibly nutritious legume packed with fiber and essential vitamins and minerals, making them an easy addition to your daily diet. Growing them, cooking them and preserving for later use are all simple tasks – freeze purple hull peas to maintain fresh flavors year round – then enjoy as a meal or side dish anytime of year! Blanching purple hull peas beforehand to remove bacteria or enzymes is required before freezing to preserve fresh flavor!
To blanch purple hull peas properly, they should first be rinsed before being placed into boiling water for two minutes. To ensure even cooking of these delicate beans, once taken from the hot water they should immediately be transferred into a bowl of ice water – this process prevents overcooking that could compromise both their color and texture.
Once the peas have cooled, they should be drained and put in freezer bags for storage. When sealing and labeling them with their date of expiry, freezing purple hull peas can preserve both their color and texture for six months or more.
When freezing purple hull peas, it is important to remember they are legumes and therefore require additional time and cooking techniques compared with other vegetables. Blanching them in small batches ensures even cooking and prevents overcooking.
Purple hull peas are members of the pea family and closely related to black-eyed and other field peas. As hardy plants, purple hull peas can often be seen growing as winter vegetables in southern climates; however, these crops may also do well when planted later spring or summer in cooler regions.
Purple hull peas are a type of field pea popularly grown in the South. A relative of black-eyed peas, they provide rich sources of vitamins A and C for daily nutrition while being versatile ingredients to add variety into dishes.
Preparation
Purple hull peas are one of the most beloved legumes in Southern cuisine, serving as sweet and tender side dishes with a distinct nutty flavor. Plus, their easy preparation makes them the perfect accompaniment to any meal! For an even tastier treat, spice up your recipe by including cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper or bay leaves for even greater enjoyment!
Start by washing and shelling the peas before blanching them for two minutes in boiling water. Remove them from the pot, submerge them in an ice bath to stop overcooking, drain and dry them thoroughly before placing them into a freezer-safe bag for storage.
Purple hull peas can be made in your crockpot quickly and effortlessly, providing a nutritious protein-rich option for lunch or dinner. They can also be enjoyed alongside salad for an easy light lunch option. When using the crockpot to prepare purple hull peas it is important to monitor their cooking time as overdoing them may alter their texture or flavour.
For optimal results when cultivating purple hull peas, fertilize regularly. Also keep an eye out for pests that could harm the plant – such as aphids, bean beetles and cutworm. If any such infestations arises quickly hose them off in order to avoid damaging your crops.
Once your peas are finished cooking, they can either be consumed immediately or refrigerated until needed. They make great additions to soups and stews or can even be served alongside rice and cornbread as part of a complete meal.
Purple hull peas can be frozen both whole or shelled. To do this, begin by washing and blanching them in boiling water before either baking them in an oven or air drying them before placing in your fridge or freezer for up to one year’s storage.
Packaging
Purple hull peas are a treasured Southern specialty and can be found at local farmers’ markets from summer through to frost. Purple hull peas make for a delicious side dish and are easy to grow and freeze for use throughout winter – many Southerners hold fond childhood memories of shelling peas on the porch while their pot of purple hull peas simmered away on the stove!
As part of the first step to freezing purple hull peas, they must first be extracted from their pods by either hand or with a small sheller. After this step has been taken, however, the beans must then be washed and drained as soon as they’ve been separated – this step is vitally important as purple hull peas have an extremely high moisture content and could quickly go bad otherwise.
Blanching peas before freezing them is also crucial; blanching involves briefly boiling vegetables before shocking them in cold water to stop the cooking process and preserve flavor and texture when frozen; without this step, frozen peas often become mushy and lose their original taste.
Once the peas have been cleaned and drained, they should be placed in an airtight freezer bag or container and frozen for four months or more. When ready to be used again, they can either be refrigerated overnight in the refrigerator or microwaved briefly prior to consumption.
Frozen purple hull peas can be incorporated into a variety of dishes, from soups and casseroles to snacking alone with salt and pepper. Personally, my favorite way to use frozen purple hull peas is in a simple recipe made with ham hock stock with aromatic vegetables and onion soup mix – quick, tasty and satisfying all at the same time! For an extra protein boost and richer, heartier flavor add in some chopped up ham as an additional protein source.
Freezing
Purple hull peas are an iconic Southern food. Popular at farmers markets and supermarkets during summer months, frozen purple hull peas can also be stored away to enjoy all year round by following some simple guidelines – giving you more value for your money while enjoying this versatile vegetable throughout its season.
First step to successfully freezing purple hull peas is selecting and prepping them for storage. Remove any deformed, shriveled, or insect damaged peas before spreading healthy ones out in one layer on dry newspaper for full drying out – this step will ensure they retain both texture and flavor after freezing!
Once the peas have dried out, blanching for two minutes in boiling water followed by immediate submersion into an ice water bath can help stop the cooking process and cool them quickly – this will protect from overcooking as well as reduce bacterial growth during storage in your freezer.
When blanching, make sure that all utensils and surfaces used are clean so as to avoid cross-contamination. Once the peas have cooled off, pack them into plastic freezer containers or heavy-duty zip lock bags using freezer tape labeled with an indelible marker so as to clearly identify their contents as well as when and where they were frozen.
Peas require a large pot with plenty of ice water for cooking. Some chefs enjoy adding pieces of pork fat (ham hock, bacon or fatback) for additional flavor in their recipes; vegetarians may use vegetable broth instead – provided it covers at least 2 inches.
Save the containers to preserve for up to one year in your freezer, before simply placing in the fridge overnight to thaw out. This ensures that they retain their flavorful, delectable texture without becoming hard or overcooked.