When English peas are at their peak—as they are now—they’re a perfect expression of the season: flavorful, healthy, fresh, and clean. Plus, they can evoke a sense of nostalgia in people who remember shelling peas with grandparents, making them an ideal vehicle for recalling stories and sharing memories when people gather together.
We appreciate it when we find people describing what shelling peas has meant to them—and here is just one example of what we’ve found online. When shelling peas, this woman is “always transported back to my grandpa and grandma’s house. I can feel the sun on my back and the breeze in my hair—and the wind chimes are tinkling around me despite the fact that we have no wind chimes at our house. I can even hear my grandma’s screen door swinging open and shut. And maybe my grandma yelling at my grandpa because he just mowed her violets again—always a weed to him but never to her. And I am sneaking bites of fresh, raw peas.”
Ingredient Quality Matters
English peas that are regeneratively farmed at The Chef’s Garden provide the maximum in flavor and nutrition. They’re perfect for this simple yet delicious fresh English peas recipe or for a wide range of other culinary dishes.
Buttered Peas and Ham with Herbs
Servings: 4-6
Ingredients
1/2-pound peas, split lengthwise
1/2-pound cooked ham, shredded
3 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
3 tablespoons chopped herbs
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Kosher salt
Pepper
Directions
In a sauté pan on high, add the peas and ham and a splash of water, and steam the peas and ham until the peas are crisp-tender: 1 1/2 minutes. Add the butter, tarragon, and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper and mix well.