Slow Cooker Soul Food Soup

This slow cooker soul food soup combines good luck soul food & traditional soup ingredients. Pork, black-eyed peas, greens…this soul food soup is the perfect recipe to start the New Year off on the right foot. Instructions to make this easy pork soup recipe in the Instant Pot are also included.   

Slow Cooker Soul Food Soup

Ingredients For Soul Food Soup

• Pork
• Black-Eyed Peas: this calls for black-eyed peas that have already been cooked. I used canned that were drained & rinsed. 
• Greens: You can use your preferred greens whether they be collard, mustard, or turnip. 
• Mirepoix (onion, carrot, celery) & Garlic
• Seasonings: salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, thyme

How To Make Soul Food Soul

Making this soul food soup is easy because the crockpot is involved. I also include electric slow cooker (Instant Pot) instructions.

Slow Cooker

1. Season the pork generously with salt & pepper. Add the pork to the slow cooker with all the other ingredients. Stir to mix well.
2. Cook HIGH 2-3 hours or LOW 4-6.

Instant Pot

1. Turn on the Instant Pot and select sauté. Once hot, add the oil to the pot. Add onion, celery, and carrots and cook for a 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the garlic and an additional minute. Turn off the Instant Pot.
2. Add the broth and water and deglaze the bottom of the pressure cooker by scraping all the bits off with a wooden spoon.
3. Season the pork generously with salt & pepper. Add the pork to the pot along with in the black-eyed peas, greens, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, thyme, pepper, and hot sauce (if using).
4. Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook set time for 20 minutes. Natural release for 10 minutes then quick-release pressure for remaining time.

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Pork Recipes

• Pork & Sauerkraut

• Creamy Pork Chops

• BBQ Pulled Pork

• Mojo Pork

• Ribs

A Recipe For New Year’s  

I made this soup recipe with New Year’s Eve & New Year’s in mind. The main components of this slow cooker soul food soup are all ingredients that are eaten for good luck in the new year.  

Pork: It’s tradition to eat pork on New Year’s because pigs root forward, the same direction we should be moving in the New Year. 

Black-Eyed Peas: We traditionally eat black-eyed peas on New Year’s day. The reasoning behind this is debatable. Personally I was raised to think that we eat black-eyed peas on New Year’s because they look like coins & symbolized prosperity and good luck. Eating black-eyed peas along with greens means for a financially prosperous new year.

Greens: While I eat green year-round, another popular tradition is to eat greens on New Year’s Day. Since greens are literally green like money, they represent a financially prosperous new year. Greens are usually served along side black-eyed peas.

FAQs & Tips

• Don’t eat pork? Use chicken! This soul is just as good with boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts. 
• Store leftover soup an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To freeze leftover soup, let the soup cool completely. Once cooled, add the soup to an air tight container, freezer-friendly plastic bag, or souper cubes. Store the soup in your freezer for up to 2 months. To reheat frozen soul food soup you have two options. You can either thaw the soup overnight  in the refrigerator OR add the soup directly to the slow cooker or Instant Pot & thaw on the warm setting!
• I used a 3.5-quart slow cooker for this recipe but it can easily be doubled and cooked in a 5 or 6-quart.

Soup Recipes

• Creamy Crab Soup

• Turkey Wild Rice Soup

• Beef Kebab

• Pot Roast Soup

• Beef Noodle Soup

Soul Food Soup

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This slow cooker soul food soup combines good luck soul food with traditional soup ingredients. Pork, black-eyed peas, greens…this soul food soup is the perfect recipe to start the new year off on the right foot.

• Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 pound pork loin, cut into 2-inch pieces, seasoned generously with salt & pepper
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• 1 large celery stalk, sliced
• 1 medium-size carrot, peeled & diced
• 1/2 cup onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 15–ounces black eyed peas, drained & rinsed
• 1 cup greens, chopped
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce (optional)
• 1 tablespoon oil (for the Instant Pot)

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Instructions

Slow Cooker

1. Season the pork generously with salt & pepper. Add the pork to the slow cooker with all the other ingredients. Stir to mix well.
2. Cook HIGH 2-3 hours or LOW 4-6.

Instant Pot

1. Turn on the Instant Pot and select sauté. Once hot, add the oil to the pot. Add onion, celery, and carrots and cook for a 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the garlic and an additional minute. Turn off the Instant Pot.
2. Add the broth and water and deglaze the bottom of the pressure cooker by scraping all the bits off with a wooden spoon.
3. Season the pork generously with salt & pepper. Add the pork to the pot along with in the black-eyed peas, greens, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, thyme, pepper, and hot sauce (if using).
4. Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook set time for 20 minutes. Natural release for 10 minutes then quick-release pressure for remaining time.

Notes

If needed, add more salt & pepper to the bowl before serving.

• Author: Shannon Epstein
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 3 hours

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