Description
Mushy peas delight British comfort food lovers with Nigella Lawson’s classic side dish. Creamy green goodness mingles butter and mint, delivering a perfect companion to traditional fish and chips with smooth, velvety charm.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 5 ounces (140 grams) frozen peas
Seasoning:
- 1/2 teaspoon dried mint
- 1 clove garlic
- Salt
Finishing Ingredients:
- 1 to 2 tablespoons (15–30 milliliters) creme fraiche
- 1 to 2 tablespoons (15–30 grams) grated Parmesan or pecorino
Instructions
- Fill a saucepan with cold water and insert a whole garlic clove, then bring liquid to a rolling boil over high heat.
- Introduce frozen or fresh peas and a pinch of salt into the boiling water, simmering for approximately 5-6 minutes until vegetables become tender and soft.
- Remove pan from heat and carefully drain the peas through a colander, extracting the garlic clove.
- Optional: Gently crush the roasted garlic and reintroduce to the peas for enhanced flavor complexity.
- Transfer the cooked peas into a food processor or blender, ensuring a robust mechanical apparatus for optimal texture.
- Incorporate creme fraiche, grated cheese, and fragrant dried mint leaves into the pea mixture.
- Pulse the ingredients until achieving a rustic, chunky consistency, avoiding over-processing to maintain textural integrity.
- Sample the preparation and calibrate seasoning with additional salt or herbs as desired, ensuring a balanced flavor profile.
- Serve immediately in warm ceramic bowls or return to the original cooking vessel to preserve temperature and warmth.
Notes
- Create a smooth, consistent texture by using a food processor or blender to mash the peas, ensuring no large chunks remain.
- Experiment with different types of cheese like sharp cheddar or creamy goat cheese to add unique flavor profiles to the dish.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute creme fraiche with coconut cream or cashew cream and use nutritional yeast instead of cheese.
- Fresh mint can replace dried mint for a more vibrant, aromatic herb taste that brightens the overall dish.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 56 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 110 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg