black-eyed peas

     

The black-eye pea, also called black-eyed bean, blackeye, 眉豆 (Cant. mei4 dao6), lobiya (ar: لوبيا), rongi, feijão-frade, Alasandee (Kannada name) or chawli/chawle, is a subspecies of the cowpea, grown for its medium-sized edible bean, which mutates easily giving rise to a number of varieties, the common commercial one called the California Blackeye being pale-colored with a prominent black spot. The currently accepted botanical name is Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata, although previously it was classified in the genus Phaseolus. Vigna unguiculata subsp. dekindtiana is the wild relative and Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis is the related asparagus bean. Other beans of somewhat similar appearance, such as the "Frijol ojo de cabra" ("Goat's eye bean") of Northern Mexico are sometimes incorrectly called "black eyed peas" and vice versa.

Trivia about black-eyed peas

  • A Southern specialty, Hoppin' John is made with pork, rice & these peas
  • Oklahoma has an entire state meal including chicken fried steak, cornbread & these "colorful" legumes
  • These aren't the band of the same name