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Louvi – Black eyed Peas

Louvi – Black eyed Peas

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Louvi is a traditional Cypriot dish of black eyed peas, cooked with silverbeet (chard).

Although the word “louvi” is ancient Greek from lovion, plural lovia (λόβιον, πλ. λόβια), in Greece this word is not used any more.  Instead the word “mavromatika” is used.

If the recipe you’re looking for is for the fresh louvi with kolokoui (marrow) you will find the recipe in the link I posted earlier.

ampelofassoula louvi cooked with kolokoui image

The Cypriot recipe is quite simple as blacked-eyed peas are cooked until almost soft and the silverbeet (chard) is then added and cooked along. It is served with extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice.

My recipe is a bit different with more complex flavour.

What I do is I boil the black eyed peas until almost soft and drain them. I then saute an onion until translucent, add the garlic and silverbeet and put the black eyed peas back in the pot.

I then add finely chopped parsley, dill and lemon juice in which I dissolve a little bit of flour.

The end result is a dish with a very aromatic lemony sauce.

Black eyed peas mavrommatika image

In Cyprus the dried ones are called louvi xero and and when they are still green and tender they are called louvi fresko, whereas in Greece they are called ambelofassoula.

 louvi mavrommatika image

Louvi xero and louvi fresko

Fresh black-eyed beans (Louvi fresko) can be eaten as a main dish but also as a salad to accompany other dishes.

louvi mavrommatika with tomato sauce image

Louvi xero can be eaten as a stew with silverbeet or chard but also as a salad.

Mavrommatika louvi with tuna image

Mavrommatika louvi with tuna

louvi black-eyed peas greek salad image

A different Greek Salad with Black-eyed Beans

Louvi me Kolokoui image

Fresh Louvi me Kolokoui (a special variety of Marrow). On the right side there is a platter with “poulles”.  Poulles are baby taro (kolokassi). 

Mavromatika black eyed peas with wild greens and quinoa image

Black-eyed Beans with Leafy Greens and Quinoa

Dried legumes are among the most nutritious foods available, because they are a good source of protein and can be a healthy substitute for meat, (which of course, has more fat and cholesterol than dried legumes).

Now that I am strictly following the Mediterranean Diet, I make it a point to prepare and serve dried legumes, at least once a week.  I am steadily losing about 1 kilo a week and that is a great achievement for me.

Black eyed beans are considered nutritious with a protein content of about 23%, fat content of 1.3%, fiber of 1.8%, carbohydate content of 67% and water content of 8-9%. 

As in most legumes, the amino acid profile complements cereal grains.  It also contains nictinic acids, vitamins A, B1, B2 and C; and is an excellent source of calcium and folate.

seskoula or lahana image
Seskoula or lahana in Cypriot (Beta vulgaris)

The properties of Chard are so many that I will have to write all day. They are rich in vitamins  Κ, Α, C, Ε. 

They are also rich in antioxidants, magnesium, potassium, iron, fiber and  if you would like to learn more, please read the link provided to learn about its other properties. 

Matched with the black eyed beans, which are rich in protein, olive oil and all the other ingredients contained in this dish you can understand how healthy and nutritious this is.

Collage mavrommatika image

My mother used to cook Louvi me Lahana and to be frank I did not like it very much.  

I am not sure exactly how she cooked it but I am sure that she did not sauté the onion and she definitely did not add garlic. 

She probably just boiled the beans with the chard and when serving we added olive oil and lemon juice.

I am sending this recipe to Tobias, of Tobias Cooks for his 8th Mediterranean Cooking Event:  Cyprus.

For those of you reading my blog for the first time, you may find out about The Mediterranean Diet and find more Healthy Recipes.

Also in my Cookbook More than a Greek Salad, which is more than a cookbook, as in there you will find all you need to know about the Mediterranean Diet, plus 250 healthy Greek recipes, as well as a selection of recipes with with their calories to choose from, in order to program your diet plan.

Black-eyed beans mavrommatika image

Louvi - Black eyed Peas

Yield: 5
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Louvi is a healthy traditional Cypriot dish of black eyed peas, cooked with silverbeet (chard) and served with extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice.

Ingredients

  • 250 grams black eyed beans
  • 1 bunch of silverbeet or chard (about 3 cups)
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 1 spring onion, finely chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 - 3 tablespoons parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon, dill or fennel fronds
  • Salt (with moderation)
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 cups water
  • 1/3 cup lemon juice
  • 1 tsp flour
  • 2 - 3 tbsp parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp dill, finely chopped

Instructions

  1. Put blackeyed beans in a pot with water and boil for 15 minutes and drain.
  2. Meantime, wash and cut silverbeet in smaller pieces.
  3. Sauté the onion and garlic with olive oil and then add silverbeet and stir.
  4. Add the black eyed peas and season with salt and pepper. Add water to cover all ingredients.
  5. Bring to boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the beans are soft.
  6. Toward the end add the parsley and dill and mix.
  7. Dissolve the flour in the lemon juice and add it to the mixture. Cook for a few more minutes.

Notes

In many countries, louvi xero (dried black eyed peas) must be soaked in water overnight Follow the instructions on the package In Cyprus and Greece this is not necessary.

Nutrition Information

Amount Per Serving Calories 132.72Total Fat 11.07gSaturated Fat 1.56gSodium 739.05mgCarbohydrates 8.7gFiber 2.55gSugar 3.35gProtein 1.86g

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collage Mavrommatika with olive oil image

Kopiaste and Kali Orexi!

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International Cooking: Food from Cyprus - The Flavor Vortex

Monday 26th of December 2022

[…] The recipe I used is from Kopiaste. […]

Elena

Wednesday 5th of January 2011

Kalimera kai KAli Xronia!!!! :))))

Ivy mou , ta mayromatika ginontai kai me kolokythakia stin kypro????????? My recent post Natural beauty secrets before tonights party!

Ivy

Wednesday 5th of January 2011

Chronia polla Elena. To fresko mavrommatiko (louvi) ginetai me megalo kolokythi prasino kai to xero ginetai me kokkini kolokytha.

tobias cooks!

Saturday 12th of June 2010

Hi Ivy, the roundup and voting is online have a look!

elly

Tuesday 25th of May 2010

I LOVE chard and it's so good paired with beans. I must say that although I like black eyed peas, I don't think I've ever made them on my own. I'll have to work them into our bean rotation - we eat a lot of beans here too!

tasteofbeirut

Sunday 23rd of May 2010

Ivy That is so funny! In Lebanon we also have a black eyed beans and chard recipe! so many similarities between the two cuisines. Yummy and nutritious is right and congrats on your steady loss of kilos!

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