When you think of all the healthy and delicious vegetables out there, you probably don’t think much about peas. They show up in so many dishes, but they aren’t usually the main ingredient. Peas quietly add color and flavor to so many dishes … but now it’s time for the humble pea to get its time in the spotlight as well.
Peas are a low-fat food that is a good source of omega-3 fats in the form of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). They also contain beta-carotene, phytonutrients, and vitamin E. Peas have been found to help with weight management, blood sugar regulation, boosting immunity, and preventing stomach cancer and other diseases including Alzheimer’s, bronchitis, and arthritis. To learn more about the health benefits of peas read Green Peas: A Protein-Packed Star Spring Veggie to Enjoy for Good Health!
Besides being healthy, peas are also versatile. They can be made into soups, sauces, and pesto. Despite the controversy known as “Peagate,” peas make delicious hummus like this Spring Pea Hummus and guacamole like this Knock-off-amole (Guacamole Made with Fresh Green Peas). Peas can be a side dish, part of an appetizer or a colorful part of a main dish. It’s time to give peas a chance with these 20 awesome recipes from our Food Monster App that celebrate green peas.
1. Inner Peas: Perfect Pea Purée
Source: Perfect Pea Purée
Instead of seeing food prep as a chore, some repetitive tasks can be quite meditative and peaceful – like shelling peas. Rebecca Leffler‘s Perfect Pea Purée makes a delicious side dish, spread for toast or crackers, salad dressing, or a creamy pesto for pasta or grains. Eating this will definitely move you toward inner peas.
2. Pea Ravioli with Basil Pesto
Source: Pea Ravioli with Basil Pesto
Valentina Goltara‘s Pea Ravioli with Basil Pesto puts a green spin on the traditional Italian pasta dish. The homemade ravioli dough is filled with green peas, lemon, and vegan parmesan. The basil pesto sauce is bright, garlicky, and so good. Who said it’s not easy being green?
3. Greek Peas (Arakas Kokinistos)
Source: Greek Peas
These Greek Peas by Kiki Vagianos are a whole new way to eat this familiar veggie. Green peas swim in a sauce of tomato, onions, dill, and of course, Greek oregano. You’ll want to have lots of crusty bread to help sop all the extra sauce in this simple but tasty dish.
4. Green Pea Avocado Spread
Source: Green Pea Avocado Spread
Green peas and avocados are best buddies in Julie Van den Kerchove‘s Green Pea Avocado Spread. This vibrant green spread has the sweet, refreshing taste of green peas combined with creamy avocado, green onions, chives, and lime. Not only is it super-healthy, but it’s also super-versatile. Use it as a dip for your favorite veggies, add a scoop to your salads, or add it to a wrap.
5. Peas With Shallots, Mushrooms, and Tarragon
Source: Peas with Shallots, Mushrooms and Tarragon
In this dish of Peas with Shallots, Mushrooms and Tarragon by Lisa Lotts, peas are the star of the show. This is a wonderful side dish to share at a family gathering, or even just to have for dinner. The fresh flavor of the green peas goes so with the buttery shallots, rich mushrooms, and peppery tarragon. So yum!
6. Spring Onion Farro Fritters with Fresh Peas, Asparagus, Radish and Tahini Mint Dressing
Source: Spring Onion Farro Fritters with Fresh Peas, Asparagus, Radish and Tahini Mint Dressing
Jennifer Strohmeyer‘s Spring Onion Farro Fritters with Fresh Peas, Asparagus, Radish and Tahini Mint Dressing is a beautiful and colorful dish. This hearty salad is fully loaded with healthy seasonal vegetables and crispy fritters made with farro. The mint tahini dressing is the perfect topping for this amazing salad.
7. Smoky Eggplant Pasta with Bok Choy and Pea Pesto
Source: Smoky Eggplant Pasta with Bok Choy and Pea Pesto
Alena Grahn‘s Smoky Eggplant Pasta with Bok Choy and Pea Pesto puts together ingredients you may not be used to seeing in one dish. The pesto is made with bok choy and green peas instead of the usual basil. It is the perfect sauce for the pasta and pan-fried eggplant.
8. Pasta-Free Baked Cauliflower and Cheese with Peas
Source: Pasta-Free Baked Cauliflower and Cheese with Peas
This Pasta-Free Baked Cauliflower and Cheese with Peas by Rhea Parsons is a lighter way to enjoy the taste of mac and cheese but without the “mac” part. Cauliflower stands in for pasta and is tossed with a homemade cheese sauce and bright green peas. It’s so good; no one will miss the macaroni.
9. Mint Biryani with Garden Peas
Source: Mint Biryani with Garden Peas
A simple of dish of rice and peas gets tons of flavor in Charanya Ramakrishnan‘s Mint Biryani with Garden Peas. Garlic, turmeric, cloves, coriander, cumin, chiles, and ginger are just some of the spices that fire up this dish. Fresh mint adds brightness and is a common pairing with peas.
10. Indian-Style Quinoa and Peas
Source: Indian-Style Quinoa and Peas
Chantelle Zakariasen‘s Indian-Style Quinoa and Peas is a simple dish that’s not too spicy. It’s made with peas, coconut milk, chiles, and lots of Indian spices. The quinoa makes this dish is filling enough to be enjoyed on its own, or as your go-to-bed of grains for a variety of curries.
11. Thai Spring Pea Soup
Source: Thai Spring Pea Soup
This Thai Spring Pea Soup by Alison Marras is thick, creamy and just a little spicy. It’s made with green peas, lemongrass, yellow curry, and coconut milk. The color is amazing and makes a beautiful presentation. Enjoy this soup hot or cold.
12. Mushroom Mutter Masala — Easy Indian-Style Vegan Mushroom and Green Peas
Source: Mushroom Mutter Masala
MMM! Those three “M”s may stand for Mushroom Mutter Masala, but they’ll also be the only thing you’ll be able to say when you enjoy this dish. It’s an easy, Indian-style dish of mushrooms and green peas. It’s ready in less than thirty minutes. This recipe by Rinku Bhattacharya is great as a main dish served with rice, but can also make a delicious side.
13. Super Simple Potato Curry
Source: Super Simple Potato Curry
Jennifer Harmon‘s Super Simple Potato Curry is a perfect weeknight dish. It takes less than half an hour to prepare, and it can feed a crowd. Potatoes, onions, tomatoes, and peas are cooked in coconut milk and lots of flavorful spices for a simple and satisfying dish that’s also delicious.
14. Magnifiqué Millet with Spring Vegetables
Source: Magnifiqué Millet with Spring Vegetables
Rebecca Leffler‘s Magnifiqué Millet with Spring Vegetables is a beautiful dish. Millet is the healthy base for fresh, seasonal produce like carrots, radishes, asparagus, and peas. You don’t need to speak French to know this dish is délicieuse.
15. Clean-Eating Portobello Burgers with Pea Pesto
Source: Clean-Eating Portobello Burgers with Pea Pesto
If it’s burger night, make Alejandra Graf‘s Clean-Eating Portobello Burgers with Pea Pesto for a yummy change from the usual bean burgers. They’re topped with a tri-color pepper salad and a flavorful pea pesto. Once you taste the pea pesto with its little kick of spice, you’ll never use ketchup on your burgers again.
16. Protein and Calcium-Rich Green Peas Cookies That Taste Amazing!
Source: Green Pea Cookies
Cookies made out of peas? What?? Get ready to be pleasantly surprised when you make Gunjan Dudani‘s Green Pea Cookies. Made with green peas, calcium-rich tofu, and protein-packed almond flour, these cookies are nutritious and delicious. Surprise!
17. Cauliflower Chickpea Cashew Curry
Source: Cauliflower Chickpea Cashew Curry
There may be four “C”s in Katrina Abram‘s Cauliflower Chickpea Cashew Curry, but you’ll give it an “A” for taste, texture, nutrition, and presentation. Green peas add color and protein to this dish filled with cauliflower, chickpeas, and tofu. Cashews and coconut milk add another couple of “C”s and make this dish rich, creamy, and delicious.
18. ‘Samosanadas’ (Seasonal Pumpkin Samosa Empanadas)
Source: Samosanadas
Peas are familiar ingredients in both samosas and empanadas so, of course, when you put those two dishes together, peas have to be part of the recipe. These ‘Samosanadas’ are a fusion of two favorite filled hand pies. Roasted pumpkin stands in for the traditional potato filling. Dip these in your favorite chutney or salsa.
19. Oscar Worthy, Star-Studded Healthy Pea Soup Shooters
Source: Pea Soup Shooters
You may not think of soup as a party food, but when you serve it in small glasses as shooters, it becomes the life of the party. Amy Height‘s Pea Soup Shooters are made with green peas, basil, and spinach plus they’re star-studded with sesame seeds and poppy seeds. Sure, you can serve this in a bowl, but shot glasses are fun and festive.
20. Fiddlehead Fern Risotto
Source: Fiddlehead Fern Risotto
Pamela Elizabeth‘s Fiddlehead Fern Risotto from Blossom on Columbus in NYC celebrates all that’s spring and green. The risotto has a green pea sauce made with peas, spinach, and lemon. The dish is topped with sautéed seasonal vegetables including carrots, fennel, and the unique-looking fiddlehead ferns.
Most of us have eaten peas all our lives but probably never stopped to really appreciate them. These recipes where peas are center stage will certainly change all that. For more, download our Food Monster App where we have over 15,000 vegan and allergy-friendly recipes!
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