This simple recipe for peas on toast (Sally Swindell is a nice change. Just like beans, peas are full of protein, and everyone has a bag of peas in the freezer.
It’s also a more ethical (and local) alternative to controversial avocados. After combining cooked peas with olive oil and garlic, just blend with lemon juice and tahini (creamed sesame seeds), then season and serve on toast!
Mash peas for young children. Read more on food safety for people and pets.
Fresh garden peas are in season from early June to late July (petit pois are young shelled peas and mangetout are undeveloped garden peas, picked when pods are still edible). Peas contain vitamins and minerals and more protein than an egg are low in sodium, if you don’t salt the cooking water. Most people in England eat 9000 peas each year!
Look in farm shops and markets for fresh garden peas in pods. Most peas in England are frozen within hours of being picked, and you can recycle soft packaging for frozen peas at supermarket bag bins, or buy tinned peas.
People in England love peas, with 35,000 hectares grown each year, all harvested within 6 weeks to produce 2 billion portions! Nearly all peas are home-grown, supporting over 700 pea-growing farmers across the UK.
How to Cook Garden Peas
Steam them to preserve vitamin C, or else just add enough cold water to cover, then boil, cover and simmer for a few minutes. If using in recipes, just add to stews and curries etc, you don’t have to cook them first.
