Garden Peas à la Française
This traditional French recipe for cooking fresh garden peas makes a wonderful accompaniment for meats. The sweet peas, pearl onions, and tender lettuce are simmered in a flavorful broth, creating a savory, delicate dish. Whether you're serving it alongside a roast or grilled meat, this dish is a perfect way to enhance any meal with its light, fresh flavors.
Servings: 8
Calories: 158kcal
Ingredients
- 8 pounds fresh peas in the pod, OR 1 pound frozen French peas
- 2 medium butter lettuce
- 1 pound pearl onions
- 1.5 tablespoon sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 small bouquet garni
- Water or stock enough to barely cover
- Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Soak the pearl onions into warm water before peeling. Shell the peas. Peel the onions and wash the lettuce and slice the leaves at about 1-inch intervals.
- Gently sweat the onions for a few minutes in the butter with the bouquet garni but do not golden or brown. Sprinkle with the sugar then add the peas and lettuce leaves in alternate layers seasoning the peas with pepper and salt each time. Pour in sufficient water or stock for the simmering liquid to cook the top layer of peas and cook gently for about 20 minutes or until tender. If using frozen peas, follow the same procedures as above.
- Presentation: To serve, remove the bouquet garni and present in a serving dish, but do not drain. The sweet cooking juices will blend very well with the gravies from the meat.
Cooking Tips for Garden Peas à la Française
- Use Fresh Ingredients: The key to this recipe is fresh, in-season garden peas. If they’re unavailable, frozen peas can be a good substitute but fresh peas will elevate the dish’s flavor.
- Sweat, Don’t Brown: When sweating the onions in butter, be sure to cook them gently and do not allow them to brown. This will keep the flavor light and delicate.
- Layering is Key: Layer the peas and lettuce with seasoning in between each layer. This helps distribute the flavors evenly and ensures every bite is balanced.
- Simmer Gently: Don’t rush the cooking process. Simmering the peas gently for about 20 minutes allows them to retain their sweetness and tenderness.
- Season to Taste: Always taste your peas before serving. The sweetness from the sugar and the savory broth should be well-balanced, so adjust salt and pepper accordingly.
- Bouquet Garni for Flavor: Be sure to remove the bouquet garni before serving your Garden Peas à la Française. It infuses the dish with subtle aromatic flavors but should not be eaten.
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