British · Dinner

Mushy Peas

Marrowfat peas soaked overnight with bicarbonate of soda and cooked to a thick green pool. The correct thing next to fish and chips and not negotiable.

Not yet ratedThis recipe has no ratings yet 1 hr 10 min hands on plus 12 hr soaking the peas with bicarbonate of soda overnight Serves 6 servings Easy
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Method

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  1. Put the peas in a large bowl with the bicarbonate of soda and pour the 1.5 litres of cold water over. Soak 12 hours.

  2. Drain and rinse the peas thoroughly under running water for a full minute, until the water runs clear.

  3. Put them in a pan with the litre of fresh water and bring to the boil.

  4. Skim the foam, then simmer, half covered, 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they have collapsed.

  5. If they are still holding shape, cook 15 minutes more and crush them against the side of the pan.

  6. Take off the heat and beat in the salt, pepper, sugar and oil.

  7. They should be thick enough to hold a spoon upright. Loosen with a splash of water if not.

Chef’s Tips

  • Bicarbonate in the soak. Without it they never break down.
  • Rinse for a full minute or they taste of soap.
  • Salt at the end only. Early salt toughens the skins.

Pairing Suggestions

  • Fish and chips
  • Faggots
  • Mint sauce

Storage & Reheating

Refrigerated for 4 days. Freezes 3 months. Loosen with water on reheating.

Common questions

How long does Mushy Peas take to make?

About 1 hour 10 minutes of hands-on work — 10 minutes of preparation and 1 hour of cooking — plus 12 hours of soaking the peas with bicarbonate of soda overnight, so allow 13 hours 10 minutes from start to finish. The recipe serves 6.

What are the key tips for making Mushy Peas?

Bicarbonate in the soak. Without it they never break down. Rinse for a full minute or they taste of soap. Salt at the end only. Early salt toughens the skins.

What should I serve with Mushy Peas?

Fish and chips; Faggots; Mint sauce.

Can Mushy Peas be made ahead or frozen?

Refrigerated for 4 days. Freezes 3 months. Loosen with water on reheating.

Is Mushy Peas suitable for a special diet?

This recipe is vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.

How many calories are in Mushy Peas?

About 230 kcal per serving, with 14 g protein, 34 g carbohydrate and 5 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.

Nutritional Highlights

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.

230Calories
14gProtein
34gCarbs
5gFat
12gFibre
4gSugar
620mgSodium

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Written and tested by Turab

One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.