14: Peas

Peas are the small seeds of plants in the legume family. We know them as 'fresh' peas or dried peas. There are three main types of fresh peas. One of these is the green pea, or garden pea. It grows in a pod that needs to be split open. The small peas, which are about 1 cm in diameter, lie inside the pod. We usually buy this pea fresh or frozen. They can also be canned. Freezing is normally better as canning tends to make peas lose their bright green colour. The other peas we often use fresh are the snap pea and snow peas. With these two types of peas we eat the pod as well. The pod can range in size from 5 to 10 cm.

For many hundreds of years, peas were commonly grown and then dried as they were much easier to store and could then be rehydrated and used throughout the year as a reliable source of food. Many peas were dried naturally in the sun. Today, dried peas are still very popular and are usually green or yellow in colour. Split peas have been processed so that they split in two and this makes them faster to cook.

Pea plants are grown all over the world and quite possibly originated somewhere in the Middle East. Pea plants need a good supply of sunshine to grow well, however, they don't mind a little frost. The pea plant needs adequate water, but they do not like to be over watered.

Peas are rich in carbohydrates and B group vitamins. They are an excellent source of fibre. Fresh peas are also a rich source of Vitamin C. Garden peas can be used in all sorts of recipes. They quite often are served on their own, with a little bit of melted butter or mint to enhance their flavour. These peas can also be served as a part of many dishes such as in soups, pies, pasta dishes and risottos. Snow peas and snap peas are particularly popular in Asian style stir fries and are also used raw in salads.

When preparing dried peas it is very important to rinse them first to remove any dust or dirt that may be clinging to them. Dried peas are also often soaked in water overnight so that they will cook faster when needed. Dried split peas are frequently used in soups to thicken them and make them more nutritious.