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Perfectly Simple Fresh Buttered Peas (English Peas Recipe)

This English peas recipe is the epitome of summer cooking! How to make peas that are simply prepared and amazingly fresh-tasting — in other words, total perfection…

fresh peas still in their shells in

Fresh Peas From A CSA

One of the perks of belonging to a CSA is that you always know exactly how fresh your produce is.

There’s no wondering how long it took to reach your supermarket from the time it was picked or how long it then sat in the produce section before arriving at your home.

cooking fresh peas that have been shelled and are sitting in a red metal colander

Cooking Fresh Peas

These fresh English peas were picked at the height of perfection and arrived at my home ready to shell. I had originally considered using them in a pasta of some sort.

But as I was thinking about what we should have for dinner last night, I decided that I wanted to do something much more simple. And you really can’t get much simpler than a pat of butter and a little salt!

how to cook fresh peas simply with butter and salt in a bowl with a silver spoon

How To Cook Fresh Peas

The key to this “peas recipe” (if you even want to call it that) is in the timing of the cooking. Overboiled, mushy peas are so blah…

How to cook peas, you ask? You want to cook them just long enough to warm them through, but they should still be crisp enough to burst in your mouth upon biting down. Perfection!

Oh, and please, PLEASE, I beg of you… use real butter. Margarine or those faux butter spreads just won’t do…

how to cook fresh peas simply with butter and salt in a bowl with a silver spoon

Simple Fresh Buttered Peas (English Peas Recipe)

Yield: 2.5 cups
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 1 minute
Total Time: 6 minutes

This English peas recipe is the epitome of summer cooking! How to make peas that are simply prepared and amazingly fresh-tasting -- in other words, total perfection...

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Bring a saucepan of water to a hard boil.
  2. While waiting for the water to boil, shell the peas into a colander and rinse them. You should have about 2 1/2 cups after shelling.
  3. Boil the peas for about 60 seconds. When they all rise to the top, they're done. Remove them from the heat and drain immediately.
  4. Toss the warm cooked peas with the butter and salt.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 5 Serving Size: 1/2 cup
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 79Total Fat: 2.6gSaturated Fat: 1.5gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 73mgCarbohydrates: 10.5gFiber: 3.7gSugar: 4.1gProtein: 4g

Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

Have you tried this recipe?

Leave a comment below and share a photo on Instagram. Tag it @unsophisticook and hashtag it #unsophisticook!

Looking for another delicious and easy peas recipe? Try this yummy pea and peanut salad! Filled with sweet peas, crispy bacon, roasted peanuts, chopped celery, and diced red onion, all dressed in a sweet and tangy sour cream/mayo dressing, it’s perfect for summer cookouts.

Jessie

Friday 1st of July 2011

Fresh peas don't need cooking at all - they are perfect right out of the pod, sweet and so yummy! Just don't let them sit too long or the sweetness will turn starchy. We plant them every year and my kids fight over them - yes, they FIGHT over peas, that's how good they are right off the plant.

KS

Wednesday 17th of July 2019

I agree! There’s nothing better than a fresh pea! LOVE that your kids have this incredible experience! However, if you’re purchasing from a market, it’s best to blanch the peas, just to be safe.

Georgia Pellegrini

Wednesday 29th of June 2011

These are the most beautiful peas I've ever seen. I love, love, love this recipe and it's beautiful simplicity.

Tara @ Unsophisticook

Wednesday 29th of June 2011

Thanks, Georgia! That means a lot to me coming from you. I really enjoyed hearing you speak at BlogHer Food this year!

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