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Smashed Minty Peas

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on July 29, 2011

Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Smashed Minty Peas

Ingredients

½ cup low-sodium chicken broth 1 pound frozen peas, not thawed2 cups chopped Boston lettuce or Bibb lettuce2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint 4 tablespoons unsalted butter ½ teaspoon sugar Salt and pepper

Before You Begin

Be careful not to overprocess the peas. They can go from smashed to pureed in seconds.

Instructions

  1. Bring broth, peas, lettuce, mint, butter, sugar, and salt and pepper to taste to simmer in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cover and cook until peas are tender, 8 to 10 minutes.
  2. Transfer to food processor and pulse until coarsely mashed, about ten 1-second pulses Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper and serve.
Smashed Minty Peas

Smashed Minty Peas

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 pound frozen peas, not thawed
2 cups chopped Boston lettuce or Bibb lettuce
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ teaspoon sugar
Salt and pepper

Ingredients

½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 pound frozen peas, not thawed
2 cups chopped Boston lettuce or Bibb lettuce
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ teaspoon sugar
Salt and pepper

Ingredients

½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 pound frozen peas, not thawed
2 cups chopped Boston lettuce or Bibb lettuce
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ teaspoon sugar
Salt and pepper

Why This Recipe Works

When developing a Smashed Minty Peas recipe, we wanted to find a method for cooking and flavoring the peas at the same time. We found that simply simmering the peas in a flavorful sauce allowed them to quickly absorb the sauce’s flavor. To intensify the sweet flavor of the peas, we added sugar. Pulsing the cooked peas, lettuce, and mint in a food processor until coarsely mashed produced a flavorful dish with a pleasant texture.

Before You Begin

Be careful not to overprocess the peas. They can go from smashed to pureed in seconds.

Instructions

  1. Bring broth, peas, lettuce, mint, butter, sugar, and salt and pepper to taste to simmer in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cover and cook until peas are tender, 8 to 10 minutes.
  2. Transfer to food processor and pulse until coarsely mashed, about ten 1-second pulses Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper and serve.

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