Do you find that you’re always in need of an easy weeknight side dish? We’ve got you covered with these Parmesan Peas.
Whether you need something to serve alongside chicken breasts or just need to make sure the kids are eating enough vegetables, these Parmesan Peas are quick and better yet, easy to make.
Heat the Easy Reach Toaster Oven to 350 degrees. Then add oil and garlic to the toaster oven baking pan and bake for about 5 minutes or until the garlic is lightly browned.
After the garlic is browned, add frozen peas that have been thawed to the pan. Bake the peas for an additional 10-12 minutes until they are heated through.
Transfer the peas into a serving bowl and sprinkle with your favorite parmesan cheese and you’re ready to serve. It’s that easy. The next time you’re in desperate need of a side dish, remember these cheesy peas are ready in under 15 minutes.
If you’re looking for a traditional ham and pea soup, you should probably keep searching. This refreshing vegetarian soup isn’t the drab, hot dish you’re used to.
Instead, it’s been lightened up for spring with brighter ingredients like vibrant herbs, zesty lemon and tangy Greek yogurt. Then, perfect for the spring and summer months, it’s served cold.
Fresh English peas are plentiful in farmers markets and grocery stores this time of year, so use them in this recipe if you can. In the fall and winter – or if you can’t find fresh ones – use frozen peas thawed to room temperature.
This cool soup will become a fair-weather staple for its fresh, invigorating flavors and bright garnishes. Free of heavier ingredients, this soup feels light and healthy, full of seasonal ingredients and nutrients. The spring pea, determined not to be taken for granted, shines in this exceptional soup that will encourage you to embrace the warmer months ahead with zeal.
In a small saucepan over medium-high, melt the butter. Add the onions and shallots. Cook until onions are clear, about 4 minutes.
Spoon onion mixture into a blender jar. Add peas, broth, mint, half and half, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Blend on PUREE for 2 minutes or desired consistency.
Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Swirl in yogurt before serving. Garnish with lemon zest and mint sprigs (optional).
Recipe Notes
To further improve the smooth consistency of the soup, press it through a fine mesh strainer or food mill after blending.
April brings a lot of seasonal produce to market shelves, and one favorite is the early-producing spring pea. Also known as garden peas or English peas, spring peas are great to snack on freshly shelled or tossed into light salads, pastas, soups and stir-fry dishes. Equally delicious, though not as commonly referred to as “spring peas” in recipes, are snap peas and snow peas, whose small peas and edible pods are crisp and delicious.
Spring peas are best eaten the day they are picked or as soon after as possible, so they retain their cool crunch and sweet flavor. If you can find them fresh at a local farmers market or grocery store, you’ll enjoy their off-the-vine “greenness,” which comes from an aroma compound also found in green peppers. Because the growing season for spring peas is so short, many of these crops are grown for the frozen market. This way, the sweet flavor of these little green pearls can be enjoyed year-round.
Facts
According to the Produce for Better Health Foundation, spring peas are fat free, cholesterol free, sodium free, a fantastic source of vitamin C and vitamin A, and a good source of folate and dietary fiber.
The pea (Pisum sativum) is also known as the garden pea, field pea, spring pea, English pea, common pea and green pea.
According to the USDA, spring peas, snap peas and snow peas are harvested before the seeds are mature for the fresh or fresh-pack markets. Contrarily, field peas are harvested when seeds are mature and dry and sold as split peas (for human consumption) or mixed with grains (for livestock feed).
The tender pea shoots that grow from the tops of young pea plants are also edible; their soft leaves and tendrils mimic the delicate flavor of young, fresh peas. They are popular in Asian cuisine and are great on salads or spring pastas.
Tips
When selecting spring peas, choose ones that are full, firm and bright green with medium-sized pods and no signs of wilting, wrinkling or yellowing.
Peas are best eaten right away, but if you plan to store them, do so in a perforated plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Wait to shell the peas until you are ready to use them.
English and garden peas must be shelled from the pod before eating.
