23 Fresh Pea Recipes to Put a Pep in Your Step
If spring had a flavor, it would taste like peas: sweet, snappy, and just grassy enough to remind you that winter is finally over. English peas, sugar snaps, snow peas, frozen peas—we’re not picky, and neither should you be. (In fact, we have more ways to use frozen peas, right over here →)
Below, you’ll find our favorite pea recipes for every kind of mood and meal: silky spring pasta dishes that lean creamy without feeling heavy, crunchy salads that barely need cooking, and brothy bowls that somehow taste like sunshine in soup form. There are fritters with crispy edges, stir-fries that come together in minutes, and plenty of ways to fold a ton of peas into whatever you’re already making for dinner.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich2/23Sugar Snap Pea Salad
Thinly slice tender sugar snap peas and toss them raw with tangy buttermilk dressing and black pepper for a no-cook spring or summer recipe that stays crisp and snappy.
Photograph by Graydon Herriott, food styling by Sue Li, prop styling by Aneta Florczyk.3/23Smoky and Crunchy Peas With Creamy Nuoc Cham
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Amy Wilson4/23Charred Bean and Pea Salad
Bean salad, but make it sizzle. Lightly charring green beans, wax beans, sugar snaps, and snow peas in a hot pan brings out their natural sweetness.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, food styling by Pearl Jones, props by Nicole Louie5/23Spring Panzanella
This gorgeous green version of Italian bread salad forgoes tomatoes, calling instead for cucumbers, sugar snap peas, and bunches of herbs with a tangy buttermilk dressing.
Hirsheimer & Hamilton6/23Herbed Pea “Sauce”
Toss fresh English peas with parsley, scallions, chives, and lemon zest to spoon over grilled fish or pork chops for a bright, herb-forward pea relish.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Nicole Louie8/23Spring-y Rice and Lentils with Coconut Yogurt
This riff on mujadara calls for making a fresh pilaf with rice, lentils, and caramelized onions, and then adding tender asparagus and peas (fava beans would also be delicious) at the end for a quick steam.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime11/23Tagliatelle With Prosciutto and Peas
Fresh or frozen peas work in this carbonara-esque spring pasta dinner. Cook them with the pasta so they release their starch alongside the noodles, then use that precious pasta water to help emulsify the sauce at the end.
Photograph by Isa Zapata12/23Spring Orzotto
Stir orzo pasta with snap peas, pesto, and lemon juice until creamy and bright, creating a risotto-style dish that leans into spring produce.
For a relatively hands-free take, try our rice cooker pea risotto.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Christina Allen, Food Styling by Thu Buser13/23Green Curry Chicken Pot Pie
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Heather Greene14/23Brothy Meatballs With Peas, Fennel, and Tiny Pasta
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Micah Morton, Prop Styling by JoJo Li16/23Tofu and Green Pea Curry
Photographs by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr. & Travis Rainey, Prop Styling by Emma Ringness, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne17/23Chicken Pasta Primavera With Lemon
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Emma Ringness18/23Shrimp and Pea Pancake
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Taneka Morris, prop styling by Dayna Seman19/23Chickpea Pancake With Pea Salad
This pea recipe doubles down: There’s chickpea flour in the pancake batter and a mixture of sugar snap peas and fresh green peas on top. Wait, that’s a triple down?!
Photograph by Alex Huang, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi21/23Cheesy Green Pea Fritters
Cottage cheese melts into a lacy batter while frozen peas add sweet pops of texture, making these fritters an easy—and budget-friendly—pea recipe for weeknights year-round.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Pearl Jones22/23Dilly Beans and Peas on Ricotta Toast
Toss snap peas and cannellini beans in a sharp, herby dressing, then pile onto garlicky ricotta toast for an easy summer appetizer or light lunch.
Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott23/23Hummus With Sugar Snap Peas and Basil
Spoon a batch of creamy hummus into a bowl, then top it with snap peas, basil, and Aleppo pepper for a quick, fresh pea recipe you’ll want to make again and again.
