Peas

Green peas are a versatile and nutritious vegetable that can be used in a wide range of dishes across various cuisines. Their sweet flavor and tender texture make them a popular choice in cooking. Here's how green peas are commonly used in culinary applications:

Side Dishes: Green peas can be cooked and seasoned simply with butter, salt, and pepper to make a classic side dish. They can also be enhanced with herbs, spices, or other flavorings like mint, which pairs particularly well with peas.

Salads: Fresh or cooked green peas add a sweet, crunchy element to salads. They can be mixed with other vegetables, grains, and a dressing to create a nutritious and filling dish.

Soups: Peas are a key ingredient in soups such as split pea soup and are also added to vegetable soups, broths, and stews for extra flavor and texture.

Rice Dishes: Green peas are commonly added to rice dishes, such as pilafs and the Indian dish biryani, where they provide color, sweetness, and nutrition.

Pasta and Noodles: Peas can be added to pasta and noodle dishes, including pasta salads, creamy pasta sauces, and stir-fries, where they complement other ingredients and add a pop of color.

Mashed Peas: Peas can be boiled and mashed or pureed to create a smooth, creamy side dish, often seasoned with mint, butter, and salt. This is a traditional accompaniment to dishes like fish and chips in some cuisines.

Curries and Stir-fries: In Indian and Asian cuisines, green peas are often included in curries and stir-fries, mixed with spices, other vegetables, and sometimes meat or tofu.

Pot Pies and Casseroles: Green peas are a classic ingredient in pot pies and casseroles, where they are mixed with other vegetables, a sauce or gravy, and meat, then baked.

Dips and Spreads: Peas can be blended into dips and spreads, such as pea hummus, where they are pureed with ingredients like tahini, lemon juice, and garlic.

Fritters and Pancakes: Mashed or whole peas can be mixed into batter to make fritters or pancakes, offering a sweet flavor and tender texture.

Omelets and Quiches: Green peas can be added to omelets, frittatas, and quiches, contributing sweetness and color to the egg dishes.

Samosas and Savory Pastries: In Indian cuisine, green peas are a common filling for samosas and other savory pastries, often mixed with potatoes and spices.

Baby Food: Due to their soft texture and sweetness, green peas are often pureed and used as one of the first solid foods for babies.

Garnishes: Cooked peas can be used as a garnish on various dishes, adding a touch of color and sweetness.

Green peas are not only versatile in their culinary uses but also offer nutritional benefits, including being a good source of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and plant-based protein. Whether fresh, frozen, or even canned, peas can be easily incorporated into meals to enhance flavor, texture, and nutritional content.