Boiling frozen peas may seem like the obvious way to cook them, but it turns out it is actually not the best method. Erica Walker, a cook and cofounder of Favorite Family Recipes has shared that cooking peas in water simply make them taste “mushy” and “bland.”
She said: “There’s actually a correct way to cook frozen peas, and it isn’t boiling! You can have sweet, crisp, vibrant green peas in less than ten minutes.” Instead, it is much better to sauté peas as it will enhance their natural sweetness so you will have a more vibrant vegetable that is more flavourful and appetising to eat.
Boiling peas in a pot dilutes the flavour as it causes the natural sugars to leach out into the water.
Not only does this make frozen peas dull but it also makes them less nutritious as vitamins C and B will also be lost in the boiling water.
Taking the time to sauté peas with a little bit of butter greatly improves the taste and also gives them a better texture as they will be slightly firm rather than a mushy overcooked mess.
Sautéing frozen peas makes them tastier and actually makes them much quicker to cook, as you do not have to wait for the water to boil.
How to make frozen peas tastier
You will need:
- One bag of frozen green peas
- Three cloves of garlic (crushed)
- Two teaspoons of sugar
- Six tablespoons of butter
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
To begin, add the peas, butter, sugar and garlic to a large frying pan. It may seem odd to use sugar but it helps bring out the peas inherent flavour and balances their slightly bitter aftertaste.
Erica said: “Add a little sugar to the peas. Just enough to enhance the natural sweetness of the peas. It’s ok, it won’t taste weird and it will bring out the natural sweetness.”
Place the frying pan on a medium heat and cook the peas for five to seven minutes until the butter has melted. Make sure to stir them so none of the peas stick to the bottom of the pan.
Once the the peas and fully cooked, turn off the heat and then season them with salt and pepper. If you wish you can also add other toppings such as mint, lemon juice or even parmesan cheese for more flavour.
Erica said: “Don’t add salt until ready to serve. Salting them too early can dehydrate them and they (obviously) won’t be as sweet. Salt them after they have cooked and you can salt to taste.”
Your peas will be a delicious side dish that is bursting with flavour rather than a bitter overcooked vegetable you feel obligated to to eat.
