Nigel Slater's Peas with Olive Oil and Mint

Okay, brace yourselves. This one's going to be short and sweet and to the point. Because we all have something else we should be doing - making these peas. You could be wondering why, and I'll tell you. They're likely the only way I will ever cook frozen peas again.

Woah. That's a bold statement, I know. It's even making me a little nervous, to bandy about with superlative threats like that. I mean, I like a regular old boiled frozen pea, lacquered with the barest hint of unsalted butter, just fine and all. Who doesn't? In fact, up until last week, that was the only way I ever ate frozen peas. (Well, except for the time when I threw half a bag into a fake chicken tikka masala. Details, details.)

But these peas, sweetened and mellowed by a barely-stewed onion and trailing the mystical scent of mint and grassy olive oil, are enough to make me put the butter away and declare myself the president and first official member of the Peas-with-Olive-Oil-and-Mint club. Do you think I should start a themed group on Facebook? Or take out an announcement in the paper? Maybe even hire a plane to write a tribute in the sky?

I mean, seriously, where have these peas been all my life?

Not to be a total boss, but I think you should make them for dinner tonight.

Peas with Olive Oil and Mint
Serves 2 as a side dish

4 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 cups frozen green peas
1 small onion or shallot, sliced into paper-thin rings
2 sprigs fresh mint
Salt

1. Pour the oil into a medium saucepan and add the peas, onion slices, and mint. Add the salt and one tablespoon of water, and cover with a lid. Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat and simmer over low heat for 6 to 7 minutes. Shake the pan occasionally. Serve hot.

Comments

[Christine]

This is exactly how my mom makes peas, minus the mint. (Also delicious with a little bit more water or broth and throw in some short pasta for a quick and easy lunch - oh and top with grated pecorino or other cheese.)

I'll have to start sneaking some mint in, I'm intrigued!

[claudia at 'cook eat FRET']

is it really only ONE TABLESPOON of water?

[Lisa (Homesick Texan)]

Now that the days are getting longer, I've been itching to augment my windowsill herb garden and the low-maintenance mint has been at the top of my list. And while I'm partial to bacon in my peas, I can't wait to try this soon!

[jocelyn]

think this needs a facebook appearance!! Sounds so easy that I must do it for martin as we both luv mint! Can't wait to see the Saylors in a couple of weeks!! lol

[michelle v]

I love pea soup with fresh mint so no doubt I will enjoy this, too. Here is another GREAT frozen pea recipe from Mario Batali. Seriously - this is knock your socks off easy and good. I make this all the time. It's so good, I crave it like I do choc chip cookies. Very easy and one you hould definitely try! http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_27379,00.html

[radish]

OOh, i just might... If i get out of work in time. I have 3 hrs of evening conference calls with clients in Asia... :(

[EB]

I'm a pea freak and I have to say. Peas with mint and onion really are the bees knees! And yes... Facebook... definitely.

[ann]

Hell yes! This is possibly the best recipe of his ever. Okay, so it's totally not, but it is awesomely, amazingly delicious. You're on such a Nigel kick lately. I lurve it!

[Victoria]

I want to have these peas RIGHT THIS MINUTE. They sound deliriously good. I love just about everything Nigel, especially his hollandaise. Luisa, I just spent ten days in Paris. It was heaven, absolute heaven. The cheese, the wine, the bread, the ice cream (the ice cream!), the rotisserie chicken from the Sunday organic market, a small copper saucepan from Dehillerin. And sunny weather in the 50's. Oh, my! Now I know why you don't post while you're away. I didn't have one spare second. It is, however, good to be back on home turf, especially since I can now try these peas.

[jenny]

YUM.

and the photo is delish, too!

[Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)]

For me, this is a real summer dish -- peas and mint from the garden would absolutely make this. So I will try it, but I will wait -- and it will be hard to wait!

[anya]

Word! It's just the recipe of genius!! Thanks for posting it!!

[lobstersquad]

I flagged this exact recipe a few days ago, it´s in Real fast food, and I couldn´t beleive I´d overlooked it. Of course I haven´t actually done it yet, but now with your pictures I think today´s the day.

[Honeybee]

This is amazing! In Britain, I once bought minted peas by mistake - and what a mistake that was, they tasted like toothpaste. But then I made minted pea soup with fresh mint and saw the light. Apart from that I always have my peas with just salt and pepper and butter but I must try this new version. Possibly tonight.

[Cookeiemouse]

What a great idea! This really does sound like the perfect way to cook frozen peas. I love olive oil and mint anyway so for me this recipe is ideal.

[Mike S]

What a great recipe.
Last night, as I was getting ready to leave the office (late,) I decided to treat myself with a tasty (but quick) dinner. I already had an easy dill-roasted salmon recipe in mind, but didn't know what to have on the side. Then it hit me, I had seen this post during my morning coffee and I decided to give it a try. It was amazing. The combination of the dill with the salmon and mint with the peas was a true inspiration. I'm going to have to play with this some more. (Incidentally, I spent most of the rest of the evening smelling my fingertips which smelled of divinely fresh baby dill and fresh mint.)

CLAUDIA - yes, only one tablespoon of water is necessary since the peas are frozen and give off their own liquid. :o)

-Mike

[Heidi (life in recipes)]

Okay Boss, I'm making them tonight! And I'm picking up a copy of Slater's book - I can't believe I don't own any.

[Liz]

peas and mint together are so yummy...I love them together in a soup, and I'll have to try them this way

[Susan from Food Blogga]

I love my peas with mint. Especially when I get fresh, crunchy ones at the farmers' market. Then you can pop 'em in your mouth as you're cooking.

[Meredith]

Okay, Bossy Bossworth, I don't even like peas but this may lure me to the dark side.

[katie]

Hi! I've never commented before but I love your blog and am a regular reader. Just had to tell you that last night, the fella and I were desperately searching for some sort of veggie to eat with an overly rich chicken pie but all we had was a boring bag of frozen peas which neither of us wanted. I sat down at the computer to brainstorm and opened up your blog... lo and behold... peas! We figured it was a sign and happened to also have fresh mint which is a rare (sadly) occurence in my fridge these days. They were delicious...I'm sure I ate more peas than chicken pie. I think you saved our dinner (and maybe our arteries too!). Thanks!

[aforkfulofspaghetti]

Olive oil and mint I've certainly used with peas many times before, but not onions. Will have to give it a try!

[Lindy]

Yum. I had somehow managed to not know about Nigel Slater until relatively recently, when I was disconcerted to discover that he had written an autobiography called "Toast". While visiting my cousin in England, I found his "Kitchen Diaries"on her kitchen bookshelf, and couldn't put it down. (Well, actually, I did eventually put it down- it was, after all, hers). Wonderful stuff and seriously readable, too. So, I've ordered myself a copy. Like I really need another cookbook.
But, of course, I actually do.
These sound great- I have definitely warmed up to mint with savory foods of late, there's just this touch of clean sharpness...

[Tammy]

Consider it done, Bossy.

[Victoria]

I apologize for writing a second comment, but I have to add that Nigel Slater's book, Appetite, is really amazing and to the best of my knowledge not available here unless you can get it used or order it from amazon.uk I love all his books, but Appetite is particularly fab.

[Hillary]

Oh wow. I never would have thought of this combination myself but this post was surely inspiring. Perhaps we'll have this on the side tonight!

[Trisha]

Peas and mint are one of my favorite things in the world, right up there with Dark Chocolate M&M's (thank goodness for balance, right?). Thanks for writing such a wonderful ode to the combo. I'd love to join your peas-and-mint club!

[Alizah]

DELICIOUS!!!

[~W~]

You were right. This is the best way to eat frozen peas. Ridiculously easy and amazingly delicious. Everyone in our family loved it.

[Simply...Gluten-free]

Yum, peas and mint. Your pix make me want this right now. So spring! Love you blog, this is my first time here. I will be back!

[Olga]

This reminds me of a recipe I made from Real Simple: peas, mint, leeks, with pasta, cheese and cream: deliciousness!

[ryan]

awsome lead up heheh.
just out of interest, i typed "pefect frozen peas" into google search along with "perfect roas chicken" and "perfect roast potatoes" im now cooking my beautifull girlfriend a kick ass meal :) lucky i thought of it cos now i have everything going nicely, right down to the peas! thank you muchly fotr sharing :)

[Eliza]

Made it. Excellent!