The Misunderstood Green Peas

Even though we Californians are fortunate to get a great variety of produce yearround , it ’ s always wonderful to use ingredients that are at the peak of their season , for best flavor , color , availability and price ! This season we celebrate green peas , a seasonal gem that ’ s never been accused of being “ trendy .” And I ’ m not talking about those mushy , olive green peas we were required to eat as kids ! It ’ s no wonder peas don ’ t come to mind as a wonderful culinary ingredient !

Peas are in the legume family that includes , but is not limited to , lentils , beans , chickpeas and soybeans . Peas are one of the few members of the legume family that are commonly sold and cooked as fresh vegetables .

Cathy ' s entire career has been in the food business . She received her culinary training at CIA , Culinary Institute of America , at both Greystone ( Napa ) and Hyde Park , NY . She managed Research and Development for Gilroy Foods and in the past ten years she was involved in the frozen vegetable business , heading up Business Development , Sales and Marketing . She lives in Gilroy with her husband , Peter Katavich .

Health benefits of green peas

Fresh , tender peas have about 100 calories per cup , and are good sources of protein , fiber , minerals , and vitamins . They are rich antioxidants and have been shown to help lower cholesterol , support blood sugar regulation , promote heart health and help protect against certain cancers .

The popularity of peas dates backs thousands of years . Originally found in the Middle East , peas are now popular across the globe . Even Thomas Jefferson knew how good peas were : he grew no less than thirty varieties on his Virginia estate .

Buying and Using Fresh Peas

Chilled Spring Pea Soup with Lobster and Orzo

When you ’ re choosing your peas , remember the best tasting pods will be vibrant green in color and full of peas with little empty space . To prepare , first rinse the pods . To easily shell them , snap off the top and bottom of the pod and then gently pull off the “ thread ” that lines the seam of most peapods . Gently open the pods to remove the seeds , which do not need to be washed since they have been encased in the pod .

Before using fresh peas , it ’ s best to blanch them for about 1 minute in boiling water , then quickly cool in an ice water bath . This helps set the color , keeping them their bright green spring color , plus it helps makes the nutrients more bioavailable . In most cases , if you can ’ t get your hands on fresh peas , using frozen is perfectly fine . Green peas freeze better than many other vegetables . The flavor may be slightly less sweet , but if stored properly , they can be used in most recipes for fresh peas . Frozen peas should be defrosted before using .

So , let ’ s give peas a chance ! Earthy flavored , subtly sweet , and tender , this vegetable is much more versatile than just sautéed with butter , although that is delicious ! Peas make a terrific companion to all varieties of pasta . And peas make an amazing chilled or hot soup . Pureed it ’ s great as a spread , or even in a smoothie !

Here a few of my favorite Fresh Green Pea recipes to try out this spring .

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GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN APRIL / MAY 2018 gmhtoday . com