Picking Peas
I always grow garden peas, they’re a wonderful thing to have in the freezer in the middle of winter. This year I planted a 25 foot row of shelling peas. We’re on our second harvest so far, there will be one more before the plants are done.
The peas are blanched and layered on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Then I freeze them and put them into gallon freezer bags. I like being able to scoop out a cup or two as needed. One of our favorite ways to enjoy these frozen peas is pureed and eaten as a side with seared scallops. The recipe is from River Cottage Every Day, it has become a favorite.
We don’t eat a ton of garden peas in the summer, mostly we stick to the vegetables that can’t be frozen and that are best fresh, like fennel. My two favorite varieties of garden peas are ‘Green Arrow’ and ‘Little Marvel’.
Do you grow garden peas? Do you have a favorite variety?
Filed under Edible | Comments (3)
Susy, nope, no peas. Maybe when I tear out my first sweet corn bed, I’ll plant some fall peas. Peas have seemed to grow well this year for my gardener friends. Even through the temperatures soar into the upper 90s, they are still producing peas with no sign of tapering off. I always thought when the weather got hot the peas were done but not this year.
I like the method you use for freezing peas. It keeps them from freezing together.
Have a great pea pickin’ day.
to Nebraska Dave's comment
Damn. That’s a lot of shelling. I prefer snow peas, because I really don’t like shelling. However, I have discovered my seven-year-old loves shelling peas. How convenient, as we’re living in a place that more or less has late-spring weather all summer long that the peas are really enjoying.
I’ll never have as many as you, though.
to kristin @ going country's comment
I agree with Kristin–love the snow peas. As a child we would spend many an afternoon shelling 5 gal buckets of garden peas. Ugh. I’ve thought about trying sugar snap peas and blanching/freezing with the pods on. Perhaps next year!
to Lorna's comment