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Favourite flavours - peas

4/8/2013

 
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'Everybody loves peas. East and west, it's the world's favourite vegetable. Peas were the first vegetable to be canned, the first to be frozen. They are the gourmet's delight... and the only green vegetable that most children will eat.'
                                                                                                                                                          - Jane Grigson, Good Things, 1971

After seeing a divine-looking garden pea soup with baby spinach, truffle and scallops on facebook recently, these petit pois grown by Sorbello Family Fresh Produce at the Capital Region Farmer's Market took my fancy. I've always had a thing for peas. Fresh peas in the pod were more readily available once upon a time, and far less expensive too! And back then, people like my mother actually had (or made) the time to relax and shell them. When I was a child, my mum and I would sit together, shelling peas, chatting all the while...  and sometimes even the family budgerigar got in on the act! 

In the chapter on peas in her book, Good Things (one of my favourites and the inspiration behind the title to this little blog of mine), Jane Grigson reminded us of the verse that recommends eating peas with honey because it 'keeps them on the knife'. She added that 'these days, our problem is not how to eat peas, but how to find good peas in the first place. People with gardens are able to [grow and] pick them just at the right moment, and cook them within a couple of hours. This is perfection. The rest of us have to chase round greengrocers' shops, trying to find peas which haven't been picked too large, or kept too long.' So true.

For those who are not growing their own, farmer's markets and quality greengrocers are the best place to source freshly harvested peas. Once picked, the sugar within the peas turns to starch and the peas themselves become less flavoursome too. Look out for shiny and bright green, crisp pods that are firm but not too large. Once shelled, peas can be gently cooked in a lightly salted water until just tender. Baby pea pods are also edible and can be used in stir fries. My mother cooked little peas into a delicate, clear chicken and vegetable broth with semolina dumplings and I can still taste the subtle sweetness that the peas added to the soup. Braised peas are exquisite when combined with finely chopped eschalot, diced bacon, shredded lettuce leaves, tarragon and butter. Of course peas are perfect in risotto or the classic Risi e Bisi (rice with pancetta and peas); and who doesn't love peas when they are served with fresh mint!?

Watch this space for details of the garden pea soup adapted from a recipe by Shannon Bennett of Vue de Monde. My blogger colleague advises the recipe will be posted very soon. If it tastes as good as it looks, it'll be a cracker!
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Do love peas as much as I do and have you ever eaten them with honey? Perhaps you grow them in your kitchen garden? How do you cook peas at your place? Please, share your recipes.
Janie link
3/8/2013 08:34:13 pm

I grow them every year, but never a big enough patch.
And it is rare a single pea makes it out of the garden and into the kitchen, as I kind of see them as the 'gardeners tax' and pay myself liberally whilst watering the veg :)
Janie x

Lizzy
3/8/2013 08:39:47 pm

Ha! I am hearing you, Janie... my tiny tomatoes are like that too. So sweet xo

Kyrstie @ A Fresh Legacy link
3/8/2013 11:43:20 pm

We love peas. I wish my garden would produce more as I have a romantic dream of sitting and shelling them as you described :) They always seem to be struck down by a wrong turn in the weather. Fingers crossed for this season as they are looking fabulous so far. We have tried them with honey by mistake really.... I added some honey and sesame seeds to carrots for the kids and peas where in the pot also. They loved them and it is now frequently requested.

Lizzy
3/8/2013 11:46:09 pm

We love them too, Kyrstie... only one season did I manage to grow a decent crop, the rest of the time they just never quite make it... I might try again soon. Honey and sesame on carrots sounds lovely xo

Zsuzsa link
4/8/2013 06:22:10 am

Lizzy it looks like we were drawn to this at the same time. They are called sugar snap peas in Canada and I just discovered them. What a marvelous thing to have!

Lizzy
4/8/2013 08:58:52 pm

Aren't they so delicious, Zsuzsa! : )

Lisa link
4/8/2013 11:46:31 am

I love peas - although I cant say that I have ever tried them with honey before~!

Lizzy
4/8/2013 08:59:07 pm

Me too Lisa... and me neither!

KAREN RUSH
4/8/2013 01:03:51 pm

I love sugar snap peas. I slice finely and include them in my salads. Divine taste and crunch. Seems a waste to cook them.

Lizzy
4/8/2013 08:59:31 pm

Great idea, Karen. Hope you are on the mend? xo

john@kitchenriffs link
4/8/2013 01:07:44 pm

Even farmer's markets often don't have decent peas these day, alas. I'll have to grow some again next year - nothing better than fresh peas (even better than freshly picked corn). Looking forward to reading about the soup!

Lizzy
4/8/2013 09:00:21 pm

Really John? Well then you MUST grow some... I love fresh corn... it's so sweet when you pick it and eat it right then and there! The soup should be a winner!

Maureen | Orgasmic Chef link
5/8/2013 02:28:34 am

I love peas. I don't like paying a fortune for them at the market only to find out that they are old and taste like bullets. (happened just last week)

When I had my garden I grew enough peas to sink a ship. I'd stand there and eat my way through the garden and any that I thought were larger than baby peas went to the chooks. they didn't mind the old ones :)

Lizzy
5/8/2013 09:58:20 pm

Maureen, I know what you mean! Nothing worse than bullet peas! And I can just see you eating your way through the peas when you had the garden... I am envious of it!

InTolerant Chef link
5/8/2013 11:10:53 am

I love peas too Lizzy, but can never seem to grow them successfully. I don't bother buying fresh peas anymore as they always left me down flavour wise, and now just sick to sugarsnaps and snowpeas instead.

Lizzy
5/8/2013 09:58:49 pm

Me too, Bec... no luck with growing them the last couple of attempts.

e / dig in hobart link
5/8/2013 11:47:10 am

i do love peas - especially the ones i grow my own and can lightly, quickly cook as soon as they are picked. i even think the end-of-season toughies taste better when they are your own.
honey and peas though - i cannot contemplate anything competing with the peas' own natural sweetness. i like mine simply steamed with a little butter and maybe some lemon juice.

Lizzy
5/8/2013 09:59:18 pm

True, true... I think yours with butter and lemon juice sound lovely.

Krista Bjorn link
5/8/2013 04:44:12 pm

Peas are my very favorite fresh veggie. I love them!! :-) Cooked peas are so good for tossing into soups and stews, but I always like them fresh. :-)

Lizzy
5/8/2013 09:59:37 pm

Peas are lovely in soups... I hope to share the link to that recipe soon.

kellie@foodtoglow link
6/8/2013 05:12:04 am

I must hold my hand up and confess that I am not desperately keen on peas. I don't know why. I think it is the texture more than anything. But I do make a nice soup with peas - Courgette, Pea and Pesto. It is a favourite at my nutrition workshops and I even have a small bowl ;D They are tremendously nutritious so I do eat them, but with slight reluctance. Nice in an Indonesian egg-fried rice though!

Lizzy
9/8/2013 10:11:58 am

Hi Kellie, your soup sounds wonderful,,, must try and find your recipe now.

Fiona link
6/8/2013 08:20:59 pm

Love that photo of your Mum but I'm afraid I must disagree. The only good pea is a dead pea. I'm not a fan... Please don't follow up with a post on carrots or the friendship will be truly tested!

Lizzy
9/8/2013 10:12:22 am

Fiona, thank you... you made me smile with your comment... no post on carrots... promise!


Comments are closed.

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    Photo of Liz Posmyk, Food Writer, Cook and Traveller

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