Hot Black-Eyed Pea Dip Jalapeño (Printable version)

Creamy, spicy dip featuring black-eyed peas, jalapeño peppers, and cumin, baked until golden and bubbly.

# What You'll Need:

→ Legumes

01 - 2 cups cooked black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed

→ Dairy

02 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
03 - 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
04 - 1/2 cup sour cream

→ Vegetables

05 - 1/3 cup diced red onion
06 - 1/3 cup diced red bell pepper
07 - 2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and finely diced
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Spices and Seasonings

09 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
10 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Garnish

13 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
14 - Sliced jalapeños

# Directions:

01 - Set oven to 375°F and allow to fully preheat.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine black-eyed peas, cheddar cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, red onion, bell pepper, jalapeños, and garlic.
03 - Add cumin, paprika, salt, and black pepper to the mixture. Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly distributed.
04 - Pour the mixture into a lightly greased 1-quart baking dish, spreading evenly.
05 - Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the dip is heated through and the top develops a golden color with gentle bubbling around the edges.
06 - Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Top with fresh cilantro and sliced jalapeños if desired.
07 - Transfer to a serving bowl and present warm alongside tortilla chips, pita bread, or fresh vegetables.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like it took hours, but you'll have it ready while your guests are still arriving at the door.
  • The heat builds slowly and pleasantly, never mean-spirited or overwhelming, just enough to keep you coming back for another chip.
  • Everyone eats it, from the people who claim they don't like spicy food to the ones who always go for the hottest thing in the room.
02 -
  • Don't skip the softening step for the cream cheese—cold cream cheese creates lumps that won't incorporate, no matter how hard you stir.
  • The dip will be slightly loose when it comes out of the oven and will firm up as it cools, so resist the urge to overbake it thinking it looks too wet.
03 -
  • Dice your jalapeños finely so they distribute evenly throughout the dip instead of creating hot pockets that catch people by surprise.
  • If you're serving this at a party, set it on a warming tray or over a candle to keep it at the perfect temperature for as long as it lasts.
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