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Garden Peas à la Française

Prep15 min
Cook20 min
Total35 min
Yield8 portions
LevelBeginner
 
 
Garden Peas à la Française
About This Recipe

Cook garden peas à la française with pearl onions and tender lettuce gently simmered in broth. A delicate French vegetable side dish for roasted or grilled meats.

Scale This Recipe

Servings

Ingredients

Units
  • 8 pounds fresh peas in the pod, — OR 1 pound frozen French peas
  • 2 medium butter lettuce
  • 1 pound
  • 1.5 tablespoon sugar
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 small
  • Water or enough to barely cover
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper, — to taste

Instructions

  1. 1

    Soak the pearl onions into warm water before peeling. Shell the peas. Peel the onions and the lettuce and slice the leaves at about 1-inch intervals.

  2. 2
    Gently sweat the onions for a few minutes in the butter with the 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.
  3. 3
    Presentation: To serve, remove the bouquet garni and present in a serving dish, but do not . The sweet cooking juices will blend very well with the gravies from the meat.
Techniques in this recipe
Simmering
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Tools Used in This Recipe

KitchenAid
Immersion Blender
Victorinox
8" Chef's Knife
All-Clad
Heavy-Bottom Stock Pot
Chef's Notes

Take your time caramelizing onions — rushing with high heat gives you color without the real depth of sweetness. If you'd like to go deeper, Stock Making Fundamentals covers this in full.

If you'd ever like hands-on guidance for your own kitchen or restaurant, I also offer 1-on-1 coaching through OCS, or you can reach me directly for consulting at 911ChefEric.com.

— Chef Eric

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