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Green Peas in Cream

"Green peas were considered a great delicacy," says Edna Lewis in The Taste of Country Cooking. "If our peas ripened first, they were shared with the neighbors and vice versa." Since garden-fresh peas have become practically impossible to find, we rely on frozen peas for this classic combination. Serve it, as Miss Lewis would, with skillet-cooked chicken and biscuits on an evening in late spring.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    45 min

  • Yield

    Makes 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

3

cups fresh peas (shelled from 3 to 6 pounds peas in pods) or thawed frozen peas (1 pound)

2

tablespoons sugar

1

/2 cup heavy cream

2

tablespoons unsalted butter

1

tablespoon finely chopped chervil, chives, or mint

Need to make a substitution?

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Bring a large heavy saucepan of salted water (4 teaspoons salt for 2 quarts water) to a rolling boil, then slowly add peas so water maintains a boil. Stir in sugar and cook peas, uncovered, until tender, 5 to 12 minutes, depending on size of peas.

    Step 2

    Drain peas in a colander.

    Step 3

    Boil cream in saucepan until reduced by half, 2 to 3 minutes. Add butter, peas, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and salt to taste and cook over medium heat, stirring, until butter is melted and peas are warmed through. Stir in chervil.