Peas: The Best Thing to Buy, The Best Ways to Eat It—Now!
We keep our eyes peeled for the freshest, most in-season vegetables and the best deals on store shelves. And we do it for you, in the name of making everyday eating unicorn-sighting-exciting. (At least, we try.) Here’s what to buy, and the very best ways to eat it—now!
Photo credit: © StockFood / Firmston, Victoria
Our version of the classic fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea” would go quite differently from Hans Christian Andersen’s. Our princess would, upon discovering there had been a sweet, grassy, edible green pellet below her mattress, push the prince out of her way as she marched down to the kitchen (still in her nightgown) and demand to have more. She would receive a bowlful of them, lightly dressed in butter, and would sit, barefoot, eating them with a spoon like cereal, with a huge smile on her face. And then she would marry the cook. And then maybe they’d open a cool little farm-to-table joint in Brooklyn.
Pea season is here: it starts in early spring and will continue through summer. Relish in it!
Some of the recipes below call for frozen peas. You’ve done them one better! So instead of thawing, either blanch the fresh peas quickly in boiling water or hit them with some quick heat in the sauté pan.
Photo credit: Everyday Food
A modern take on the classic lunchroom side dish.
Spicy Potatoes and Peas with Chicken
Photo credit: Everyday Food
Pea and cilantro add visual interest to an otherwise monochrome meal.
Asparagus, Peas, and Radishes with Fresh Tarragon
Photo credit: Everyday Food
All of the best things about this season: peas, asparagus, radishes, and fresh herbs, finished with salt and pepper and that’s it.
Petite Pea Omelet with Mint and Mascarpone
Photo credit: Food52
The addition of mascarpone makes this a dinner- (and wine-) worthy omelet.
Minted Pea and Prosciutto Crostini
Photo credit: Everyday Food
We’d double this pea mash and use it as a sandwich spread. Imagine it pressed into a panini with crumbled feta…
Photo credit: Everyday Food
In this dish, peas go decadent.
Beef, Snap Pea, and Asparagus Stir-Fry
Photo credit: Everyday Food
The good thing about snap peas: served whole, they don’t require removing the tiny green orbs from their pods.
Photo credit: Food52
Just a tiny bit of pancetta in the mix adds smoke to an otherwise sweet but hearty soup.
Pea and Parsley Pesto with Linguine
Photo credit: Everyday Food
Fifteen minutes of cooking time and you’ve got a springy kind of comfort meal on the table.
Photo credit: Food52
A fresher take on creamed peas, these could be used as a side to salmon or treated like a condiment, to be mixed into pasta. Or, in our cases, scooped from a bowl with crusty bread.
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