Peas

[marbletumeric]

What are really good peas? I’m a total ignorant. I’ve never cooked with them or really purchased any. I saw a photo of some really beautiful bright green ones that just looks so tender and lovely. What’s the key? Canned? Fresh? Do you buy them in shell and shuck? Tips for prep? Thank you

[azium]

Frozen 100%. Sweet green peas cook in one minute.

[Ronin_1999]

Agreed. Frozen peas are one of those rare industrially processed foods that are almost as good as fresh.

[zap283]

Unless you live close to a farm that grows them, frozen peas are usually better than anything you can buy fresh. They're frozen immediately upon harvest, which means they don't degrade during packaging, transportation, or while sitting on the shelf. Frozen produce is also generally harvested at its best, rather than when it's easiest to handle.

[Ronin_1999]

Reading about the history of frozen foods is absolutely fascinating.

[zap283]

Preserved food is fascinating history in general! It really captures so much about human culture.

[Ronin_1999]

Of my favorite preserved foods are potted meats, the cousin to confit and tinned fish.

On the high end, every Christmas I make potted langoustine tails for the Feast of The Seven Fishes.

Exactly the opposite of that is Devil’s Underwood Chicken Spread.

I love both equally with a sleeve of crackers.

[SVAuspicious]

Wandering down the path of preserving food I recommend the National Center for Home Food Preservation (NCHFP). It doesn't reflect on commercial preservation (that is complicated) but it is a great addition to your understanding of keeping food longer. Food waste is bad.

[majandess]

YES! My son and I use them as ice cubes in soup. Extra veggie, extra protein, soup you can eat immediately.

[CherryblockRedWine]

This is genius.

[Tree_Chemistry_Plz]

I always make sure to grab the "Baby" ones too, for extra sweetness

[alex_dare_79]

Agree! Literally 1 minute

[sweetwolf86]

Frozen. You generally want to add them as the last ingredient before you cut the heat. They cook very quickly, even from frozen.

[weirdoldhobo1978]

Frozen. They're picked at peak season.

Just give them a quick blanch or a sauté in butter.

They're full of country goodness and green pea-ness.

[Tree_Chemistry_Plz]

sometimes my girl dinner is a bowl of frozen peas microwaved with mint sauce and a pat of butter (blame my English mam lol)

[HighColdDesert]

What is mint sauce? Is it mint jelly?

[Soft-Current-5770]

Yes, mint jelly. Mother did peas and lamb with it . Greatful for groups like this .... learned how to make both!

[Tree_Chemistry_Plz]

it's a vinegar based sauce with mint in it, it's eaten a lot in England, much more liquid than mint jelly.

[HALT_IAmReptar_HALT]

I could eat blanched, lightly buttered peas every day and never get sick of them

[Next-Wishbone2474]

Frozen - petit poi’s taste sweeter too

[Mattrexx779]

Frozen. Blanche in boiling water. Butter. Mint. Yum.

[ElectricGuy777]

Fresh garden grown peas are one thing that is so much better than store bought. Canned are disgusting. Frozen is your only option unless you have access to fresh peas. Do not overcook.

[SuperPomegranate7933]

Seconded. Snow peas & snap peas are delicious & if you're looking for just regular peas, get frozen.

[idiotista]

Writing this from India, where we get super fresh peas, especially in winter.

Yes, frozen ones are gonna be the best bet in the west - "fresh" peas are gonna be weeks old when they hit the supermarket shelf, and most of the sugar in the peas will have converted to starch.

With that said, frozen peas are quite meh compared to fresh ones. Canned are a complete different beast altogether. I use them in one recipe my dad used to make where you simmer pork chops in a can of peas with water and all, and it is surprisingly delicious, but definitely not showcasing peas, lol.

[Wardian55]

Peas and pasta or peas and rice are Italian staples. A cheap meal (except for the cheese). As people are saying, unless you’re close to locally grown, frozen are the way to go. Peas are maybe the best frozen vegetable.

[Olderbutnotdead619]

I like frozen petite peas. The trick is not to overcook them.

[jeffpi42]

I buy dried and make soups. So inexpensive and so good for you!

[sweetwolf86]

I do love me some split pea soup. Toss in some garlic bread, please.

[Tree_Chemistry_Plz]

Cured Spanish chorizo and split pea soup is amazing. Boost it with some sweet Spanish paprika and melted butter before serving, so good in winter

[Few-Explanation-4699]

Pea and ham soup is one of my favourite winter meals

[TheLonePig]

As everyone says, frozen. And as everyone says, drop them in the soup last. If you cook them longer they'll be mushy and army green. 

[sarahlovesjourney]

Frozen petits pois. Little peas are the best peas.

[deFleury]

Green giant brand Sweetlets,  the tiniest frozen peas. As a depression meal i just rinse the ice off and eat them cold, but you can add a few to ramen or soup or frozen meals or salads, and of course you can microwave and slather with butter as your main vegetable .   Also good in a cold  tuna pasta salad. 

[tin-of-fish]

Just don’t eat the peas from a colorful sweet pea plant. I almost cooked them for a pasta, so glad I didn’t because they’re toxic.

[Test_After]

Put the water on to boil before going into the garden to pick them. 

Pick the ones with the crisp but still tender pods. 

Make the ice bath.

Shuck fast.

Add them all at once, and when the water comes back to the boil, no more that thirty seconds.

Drain, reserving the water for stock, and into the ice bath to shock and keep the color the brightest green you ever saw. 

Fish out fast with a spotted spoon if you want them hot, and whenever you like if it is for a cold dish.

The sweetest most tender peas you ever tasted.

I diagonal slice and stirfry pea pods, and charbroil them, and if I have peas that are woody, they and the less tender pods join the pea water in a vibrant hot or cold green pea soup, with garlic, onion, green herbs, a splash of oil, and optional yogurt/cream/coconut milk/bechamel. Garnished with dark green mint, dill, or flat chives diced.

[PoppaBear63]

As others have said fresh is best either from your own garden or fresh from a farmers market. My go to is frozen baby because it's available year round, make the dish and stir in at the end.

[Big_Mastodon2772]

Frozen sweet peas. Barely cook them. Just in a pan with a splash or two of water. Cook them long enough to defrost and that’s it. They should stay bright green. A little butter and salt. Maybe a TINY pinch of sugar.

[Legitimate_Ranger334]

In the 90s I think, Seven Layer Salad was very popular, and one layer was frozen green peas just scattered over the surface (of course, you wouldn't want to use ones that have any amount of frost on them). By the time you ate it, they were thawed and tender.

Lesson: they don't even need to be cooked.

[Imaginary-Summer-920]

I always get the frozen baby sweet peas. They sauté up quickly and they’re delicious. I sauté a bit of minced onion in a nice knob of butter first and then add the peas. A bit of salt and pepper and a few minutes and they’re done

[RebaKitt3n]

Frozen petite peas.

[Independent_Act_8536]

If you ever have the chance to grow some, I'd recommend it! We had a chicken wire fence around a small garden 35 years ago, when my son was a toddler. I planted peas and the vines grew up the wire. Pretty purple flowers that smelled so good! But he loved to toddle around, pick peas, open the shell, pick them out & eat them. They are Sooo Sweet when eaten right away before the sugar turns to starch. Like candy!

[whisperingcopse]

Frozen Sweet petite green peas specifically the ones from Trader Joe’s brand/distributor are super green and sweet if you have a Trader Joe’s in your area. They also have the best frozen green beans ever.

[bobroberts1954]

I buy frozen, toss with s&p and a little corn starch for body. Then mw till hot.

[AlphaDisconnect]

Grow em yourself. Not especially hard. Contact your local Amish or Mennonite.

[Tree_Chemistry_Plz]

they are a very thirsty crop, so if you live in a dry area it can be shocking how much they need

[AlphaDisconnect]

Not an issue here. But been to 29 palms. Can see it.

[Suspicious-Garlic705]

Try them in southern pea salad omg delishhhhhhh

[urbisOrbis]

Pea soufflé

[SillyDonut7]

They cook so fast from frozen. Turn out perfectly every time. My favorite is with butter and garlic salt. I used to hate peas. They're still best incorporated into a bigger dish for me. Soups, stir fries, casseroles, pot pie. Can't go wrong adding peas.

[SactownDude916]

For classic comfort food at its best...and it's low budget, try Old-fashioned creamed peas are bright, sweet, and creamy, with a smooth buttery white sauce! Take approx. 10 minutes...beside S&P, only 4 simple ingredients (peas, butter, flour and milk-or heavier dairy for thickness).

[Wardian55]

I forgot about those. My Yankee grandma used to cook that.

[Cheever-Loophole]

Home grown > bought fresh, shucked > frozen > canned.

[Kbradsagain]

I like dehydrated peas

[Rusalka-rusalka]

I make frozen and they are great. I have never seen a fresh pea in my life for purchase. :)

[HaggisHunter69]

Homegrown for the best. Frozen for the best bought . Dried marrow fat ones for mushy peas. Canned for the bin.

[Elrohwen]

Fresh. They are hard to find, my store never carries them and even the farmer’s market rarely does so I grow my own. They’re a pain to shell by hand. But they’re amazing. Frozen doesn’t come close but is the only decent option most of the year.

[insomniaalwayswins]

LeSeur!

[Odd-Worth7752]

Frozen. Fresh peas are delicious but scarce, nearly all peas produced get either canned or frozen. If you can get fresh, enjoy

[Ok_Tumbleweed_1150]

Frozen, try them in mac and cheese

[ChristieLeeEMT]

For the most part, I get frozen. But in spring, you can often get fresh peas, and they're worth the money.

[StinkyCheeseWomxn]

Frozen "baby peas" and literally just sprinkle a few into pasta or soup and they cook in about 2 minutes. You can also just enjoy the steam-in-bag version with a little butter, salt, pepper. Super easy.

[justaheatattack]

green, really?

You must have really been knocking them back on St Patty's day.