Selection and Storage
Green peas are winter crops. Fresh peas are readily available from December until April in farmer’s markets. However, cold-stored packs, dry peas, mature seeds, split peas, flour, etc., can be found in groceries year-round.
When shopping for green peas, look for fresh pods that are full, heavy, and brimming with seeds. Avoid those with wrinkled skin or over-mature yellow pods.
Green peas are at their best soon after harvest, as much of their sugar content rapidly converts into starch. To store them, place them inside a vegetable container in the home refrigerator set at high relative humidity, where they will stay fresh for 2-3 days. Frozen seeds, however, can be used for several months.
Preparation and serving methods
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| Green peas in a market and sauteed peas in oil, garlic, and onion. |
Trim away the stalk end and peel the thin thread along the suture line. Then, split open the outer husk to release round to oval, green seeds.
Here are some serving tips:
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Peas mix well with other complementing vegetables like potato, carrot, beets, onion, artichokes, etc., in the preparation of a wide variety of dishes.
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Peas can be added to soup as a flavorful side dish.
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Green peas, known as mutter (मटर), are one of the common ingredients in winter season delicacies in the Indian subcontinent. Fresh peas are added to a variety of mouth-watering recipes like Aaloo-mutter (आलू मटर), mutter-paneer, mutter-gajjar, etc., with added spices, garlic, coriander leaves, onions, and tomato.
Safety Profile
Green peas are generally safe to eat for all individuals. They contain negligible amounts of oxalic acid, approximately 1 mg per1/2 cup, a naturally occurring substance found in some vegetables. In some people, oxalic acid may crystallize as oxalate stones in the urinary tract. For comparison, Navy Beans hold 76 mg of oxalic acid per 1/2 cup. Adequate intake of water is, therefore, encouraged to maintain normal urine output and minimize the risk of stone formation. (Medical disclaimer)
Also read ≻≻-
≻≻- Pea Shoots nutrition facts and health benefits.
≻≻- Sugar Snap Peas nutrition facts and health benefits.
≻≻- Snow Peas nutrition facts and health benefits.
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Further reading:
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Refer Stanford School of Medicine Cancer information Page- Nutrition to Reduce Cancer Risk (Link opens in new window).
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Pisum sativum University of Maryland Extension. (Link opens in new window).