Gray Peas with Bacon

Name: Gray Peas with Bacon
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 75 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Latvia
Ingredients: 2 cups dried gray peas, soaked overnight; 6 slices bacon, diced; 1 onion, diced; 2 cloves garlic, minced; Salt and black pepper; Sour cream, for serving

4 servings15 min prep60 min cookEasy Latvia

♡ Sign in to save Print / Save as PDFPro

The Story Behind It

The Tale of Gray Peas with Bacon

Story updated September 17, 2026

Gray peas with bacon is a hearty Latvian dish especially tied to Christmas, when the peas are said to represent tears or coins for prosperity in the year ahead. Gray (field) peas have been grown in Latvia for centuries, and this simple pairing with fried bacon and onion reflects old Baltic peasant cooking.

Ingredients

Scale:· 4 servings

2 cups dried gray peas, soaked overnight
6 slices bacon, diced
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
Salt and black pepper
Sour cream, for serving

Instructions

1Drain the soaked peas and simmer in fresh water until tender, about 45-50 minutes; drain.
2Render the bacon in a skillet until crisp, then add the onion and garlic and cook until soft.
3Toss the cooked peas with the bacon, onion, and rendered fat.
4Season with salt and pepper.
5Serve warm, topped with a dollop of sour cream.

Want Cook Mode, your own recipe photos, and unlimited calculators?

Get Home Cooking Pro

Comments

Loading comments…