Easy Sauteed Frozen Peas in the most delicious combination of butter, garlic, shallots, Parmesan cheese, and lemon., This simple side dish will make anyone fall in loves with peas again. Trust me, this is coming from someone who wasn't a fan of peas for years.
Peas. What can I say about peas? Probably one of the most historically detested veggies in all of history, the pea has gotten a bad rap throughout time, that's for sure. I was trying to think of how many movies from my youth showed kids feeding their peas (usually accompanied by carrots) to the dog, or putting them in a plant.
I was the same as those kids growing up. Although I didn't hide it in the plants, I did find ways to scoot my peas around to make it look as though I ate them. I have even gone so far as to swallow them whole, one by one, like pills, just so I didn't have to chew them.
Then, this weird thing happened in college. My roommate would cook and eat peas with onions ON PURPOSE. She said it was something her mom made and she just loved it, so she would make it several times a month. I never asked for a bite because I was still of the mind that peas were disgusting.
Fast forward to when I had my own place just out of school and I was living on a budget. One night I looked at a bag of frozen peas sitting in my freezer and thought "why not"? And used what I had on hand.
It was similar to this recipe, but let's just say over the years I've perfected it. And now? I have to say my roommate was on to something because peas with some oniony flavor, plus butter and garlic, and of course some cheese and lemon zest really takes these flavorful veggies over the top. I now love them and I am sure you will too!
How do you make sauteed peas?
Making this pea dish couldn't be any easier or tastier!
First thing is to heat the butter over medium-high in a medium-size skillet. Next, add the thinly sliced shallots and cook them for 3-4 minutes, or until they begin to soften.
Then you'll add the garlic to the butter and shallots and cook for just about another minute or until they are fragrant.
Finally, add the peas to the skillet and give everything a good stir around the pan to combine. Cook the whole mixture for another 4-6 minutes or until the peas are warmed through and bright green. Make sure not to overcook them or they'll get mushy.
Take them off the heat, season the peas and shallots generously with salt and fresh black pepper and top with lemon juice and also lemon zest if you're using them. Finish the pea dish with a dusting of Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
What kind of peas are frozen peas?
Though there are many types of peas, the kind you buy in a bag frozen are generally English peas. The peas are green, round, and small and grow in a pod. The peas are removed from the pod before being frozen.
You could eat the peas frozen or cooked, and they go great in a variety of recipes. I always keep a bag in my freezer for such an occasion.
Are peas a vegetable?
Like many veggies that aren't really veggies (I'm looking at you, tomatoes), peas are actually a member of the legume family. So they're siblings with things like lentils, beans, peanuts, and chickpeas.
They are high in complex carbs kind of like corn and potatoes, but they are still really good for you so don't let the carbs bring you down. They are a good source of plant protein as well as tons of vitamins and minerals like iron; vitamins A, K, and C; thiamine, folate, phosphorus, and many more!
What to serve with sauteed peas?
These quick and easy sauteed frozen peas can be served with just about any main dish, but here are some that pair perfectly with peas.
- Double up on the Parmesan flavor with this easy Parmesan Crusted Chicken.
- For a more classic dinner, pair the peas with this Healthy Chicken Piccata.
- Make a healthier version of this classic British pub fare and serve these peas with Baked Fish and Chips.
- For a super easy meal, cook up these sauteed peas while this Foil Baked Salmon cooks in the oven.