Fresh Peas Recipes For Spring (PHOTOS)

Some of us were forced to eat the peas off our plates during childhood, but these days we don't need much coaxing. For those who adore them, peas take the crowning glory of the spring season. (For those who still don't like peas, we encourage you to give them a second try.) With their naturally sweet flavor, peas can enhance pretty much any dish, and they're versatile too: Our recipe slideshow offers up pastas, soups, side dishes and more -- all featuring peas.

All of our recipes use shell peas (a.k.a. English peas), but if you're in a pinch you could substitute frozen peas. For recipes that call for baby peas or raw peas, you'll want to look for pea pods that are small and tender so the peas aren't stringy or fibrous. In many supermarkets you can now buy containers of shelled peas, but for the best freshness we recommend buying pea pods you shell yourself.

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• Spring Minestrone Soup

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/spring_minestrone_soup/" target="_blank">Spring Minestrone Soup recipe</a> by Simply Recipes</strong>

• Grilled English Peas

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/grilled_english_peas/" target="_blank">Grilled English Peas recipe</a> by Simply Recipes</strong>

• Fettuccine With Peas, Asparagus And Pancetta

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.annies-eats.com/2010/06/08/fettuccine-with-peas-asparagus-and-pancetta/" target="_blank">Fettuccine with Peas, Asparagus and Pancetta recipe</a> by Annie's Eats</strong>

• Spring Pea Hummus

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/spring_pea_hummus/" target="_blank">Spring Pea Hummus recipe</a> by Simply Recipes</strong>

• Simple Peas And Onions

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/simple_peas_and_onions/" target="_blank">Simple Peas and Onions recipe</a> by Simply Recipes</strong>

• Lemon Herb Quinoa With Hemp Seeds, Spring Peas And Basil

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://food52.com/recipes/18056-lemon-herb-quinoa-with-hemp-seeds-spring-peas-and-basil" target="_blank">Lemon Herb Quinoa with Hemp Seeds, Spring Peas, and Basil recipe</a> by Gena Hamshaw via Food52</strong>

• Pickled Peas

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://food52.com/recipes/4091-pickled-peas" target="_blank">Pickled Peas recipe</a> by Kitchen Butterfly via Food52</strong>

• Spring Green Risotto

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.annies-eats.com/2010/03/30/spring-green-risotto/" target="_blank">Spring Green Risotto recipe</a> by Annie's Eats</strong>

• Italian Rice And Peas

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/risi_e_bisi_italian_rice_and_peas/" target="_blank">Italian Rice and Peas recipe</a> by Simply Recipes</strong>

• Polenta With Peas And Pork Sausage

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://food52.com/recipes/21637-polenta-with-peas-and-pork-sausage" target="_blank">Polenta with Peas and Pork Sausage recipe</a> by thirschfeld via Food52</strong>

• Chicken Vindaloo With Brown Rice

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://bevcooks.com/2013/01/chicken-vindaloo-with-brown-rice/" target="_blank">Chicken Vindaloo with Brown Rice recipe</a> by Bev Cooks</strong>

• Peas & Pancetta

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://food52.com/recipes/17526-peas-pancetta" target="_blank">Peas & Pancetta recipe</a> by La Tavola Marche via Food52</strong>

• Lentil Salad With Fresh Peas, Pistachios And Mint

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://food52.com/recipes/12861-lentil-salad-with-fresh-peas-pistachios-mint-sheep-s-milk-feta" target="_blank">Lentil Salad with Fresh Peas, Pistachios and Mint recipe</a> by Nicole Franzen via Food52</strong>

• Mustard-Garlic Chicken Paillards With Spring Peas And Lemon

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/17/mustard-garlic-chicken-pa_n_1431685.html" target="_hplink">Mustard-Garlic Chicken Paillards with Spring Peas and Lemon recipe</a></strong>

• Spring Peas With Mint

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/spring-peas-with-mint_n_1058716.html" target="_hplink">Spring Peas with Mint recipe</a></strong>

• Penne With Asparagus, Sage And Peas

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/penne-with-asparagus-sag_n_1058610.html" target="_hplink">Penne with Asparagus, Sage and Peas recipe</a></strong>

• Green Salad With Asparagus And Peas

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/green-salad-with-asparagu_n_1056688.html" target="_hplink">Green Salad with Asparagus and Peas recipe</a></strong>

• Amazing Pea Soup

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/amazing-pea-soup_n_1056345.html" target="_hplink">Amazing Pea Soup recipe</a></strong>

• Pea And New Potato Salad

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/pea--new-potato-salad-n_n_1061738.html" target="_hplink">Pea and New Potato Salad recipe</a></strong>

• Farfalle With Spring Vegetables

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/farfalle-with-spring-vege_n_1058382.html" target="_hplink">Farfalle with Spring Vegetables recipe</a></strong>

• Peas With Bacon And Mint

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/peas-with-bacon-and-mint_n_1055832.html" target="_hplink">Peas with Bacon and Mint recipe</a></strong>

• Modern Pea And Ham Soup

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/the-modern-pea-and-ham-so_n_1057581.html" target="_hplink">Modern Pea and Ham Soup recipe</a></strong>

• Pasta With Creamy Mushroom-Pea Sauce

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/pasta-with-creamy-mushroo_n_1061535.html" target="_hplink">Pasta with Creamy Mushroom-Pea Sauce recipe</a></strong>

• Scallops And Sweet Peas

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/scallops--sweet-peas_n_1056353.html" target="_hplink">Scallops and Sweet Peas recipe</a></strong>

• Peas And Lettuce

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/peas--lettuce_n_1056466.html" target="_hplink">Peas and Lettuce recipe</a></strong>

• Mache And Chicken Salad With Honey-Tahini Dressing

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/mche--chicken-salad-wit_n_1061904.html" target="_hplink">Mache and Chicken Salad with Honey-Tahini Dressing recipe</a></strong>

• Sun-Dried Tomato Basted Pork Loin With Creamed Sweet Potato And Mashed Peas

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/sun-dried-tomato-basted-p_n_1057657.html" target="_hplink">Sun-Dried Tomato Basted Pork Loin with Creamed Sweet Potato and Mashed Peas recipe</a></strong>

• Mac And Cheese With Bacon And Peas

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/curtis-mac-and-cheese_n_1055733.html" target="_hplink">Mac and Cheese with Bacon and Peas recipe</a></strong>

• Turkey Cutlets With Peas And Spring Onions

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/turkey-cutlets-with-peas-_n_1049213.html" target="_hplink">Turkey Cutlets with Peas and Spring Onions recipe</a></strong>

• Sauteed Peas With Watercress And Mint

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/sauted-peas-with-watercr_n_1056771.html" target="_hplink">Sauteed Peas with Watercress and Mint recipe</a></strong>

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Comments

[thebarbecuemast]

03:20 PM on 07/18/2012

i love peas especially with my barbecue dishes i like peas that are very sweet and will eat them raw

[vitin6039]

01:37 PM on 05/05/2012

I have not idea what to doe with peas I am growing beside boiling them, I think this is a good idea.