5 Ways to Use Up and Preserve Fresh Peas

5 Ways to Use Up and Preserve Fresh Peas

Peas are one of those cool weather crops that both enrich your soil and thrive in weather that other plants, like tomatoes and squash just can’t.  I’m not going to lie, watching them trail up a trellis and create the first wall of green in my garden always gives me the calmest feeling of self-satisfaction.  

Once they do come on, though, you have peas for days, and using them up before they go bad becomes an art form.

Here’s some ways to get the most out of every little pea in your garden:

Preserving

Freeze them.  This is probably my favorite way to preserve peas.  Then, I can toss them into stir-fry’s or soups as needed.

Can them.  Canned peas are one of those things people either love or hate.  I personally love them.  I think they are sweet and kind of mushy, and I like it.  The only drawback to canned peas is that you need like 20 lbs to fill a canner load.  That’s a lot of peas, and in my new garden, that ain’t going to happen.

Dehydrate them.  Then you can toss them into soups, stir fry’s, etc. This is a great option if  you don’t have a ton of freezer space, but do have dry storage.  You can just store them in an airtight container.  I’m a big fan of storing dried foods in canning jars.  They are easy to see, don’t take up a ton of space, and I have a boatload.

Ways to Enjoy Them Fresh

1. I’ll toss peas into pretty much any summer salad with reckless abandon, but some of my favorite recipes that call for peas are:  Orzo Salad with Fresh Peas, Carrots and Pine Nuts, Pasta, Pesto and Peas, and Ranch Pasta Salad w/Broccoli, Spinach and Green Peas.  {As an added bonus, most of these recipes work with frozen peas too}.
2. If you want to serve them on their own, you can just cook them and add butter, or you can make them exciting and try Spiced Peas with Lime and Cilantro or Peas and Bacon.

How do you take your peas?

~Mavis