Black-eyed peas : If using dried black-eyed peas, in a large pot cover dried black-eyed peas with water. If not soaking peas first, simmer them for about 3/4 to 1 hour until tender. If pre-soaking for four hours, simmer them for about 30 minutes

this is how we cook black eye pea from the Caribbean i am from Trinidad .

soke the pea over night with 2 tsp baking powder so the pea can get soft .

cut up a chive , one onion 2 clove garlic and one tomato put some oil to hot
when oil hot add all the dry ingredients and let simmer for a while then drain pea and add to oil.

add ketchup mustard and soy sauce make a sauce and add to pea low down fire and let the pea cook make sure you add you salt and black pepper and one whole hot pepper if you like pork you can add some and or salt beef you would not be live the different taste you would get and you can also make your salad from that . hope that i was some help