field peas

[bfjinca]

found fresh field peas at farmers' market. Need suggestions for preparation. Recipes welcome.

[bookworm]

Field peas are my favorite food next to black eye peas. I have a freezer full. The way I prepare them is to put peas into pot of salted water and bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for about 20-30 minutes. When peas are no longer floating and water is dark they should be done. My mother adds a little cooking oil (used to be bacon grease when I was growing up) to give them a little more flavor.
Hope this helps.

[bfjinca]

thanks for the suggestion. Will try it tonight. bj

[Beth Y]

In place of bacon grease or fat back that we Southerners traditionally used to flavor such things as field peas, butter beans, etc., I know cook them with a smoked turkey leg. You can buy them in the poultry section of most markets. (I find them two to a pack and freeze one for later.) I usually cook a day in advance and skim off any fat before reheating and serving. I am not sure it is less fat, but I would think so.

[jillmayre]

We like to cook our peas in our homemade vegetable stock (onion peels, celery bits etc -- keep a ziploc bag in freezer until filled, boil contents in water until broth, strain. You can keep tabs on the sodium content this way.)

To the broth, we add the peas, a finely chopped onion, a garlic clove or two, a dried hot pepper, a bay leave. Since we don't eat meat, you can always add a couple of drops of liquid smoke for that salt pork taste. Cook until peas are tender.

Serve with greens, baked sweet potatoes, juicy tomatoes and cornbread. MMMMMM tasty!!

[bfjinca]

thanks to Beth & Jill for cooking suggestions. Made the field peas last night cookedin lowfat chicken broth seasoned withMrs. Dash's original seasoning. I liked them but no on else did. Will try you suggestions next.