Snow Peas join the Spring party!

Welcome June and all of your goodies (cherries and blueberries, I see you ;)! While we are basking in the glow of strawberries, rhubarb and all of the gorgeous shades of peonies, Snow Peas have sprung on the scene. In very short order we will see Sugar Snap and Shelling Peas. 

Snow Peas originate from Southwest Asia and have been cultivated for centuries. They likely got their name because they can withstand some frost or light snow on either end of their growing season there - Spring to early Winter. But the superstition is that they also kept frost and snow away ;)  Whenever I think of Snow Peas, I immediately taste sesame oil and soy sauce, and indeed one of the easiest preparations is to lightly saute the peas in sesame oil and season them with soy sauce and sesame seeds. What’s not to love there? Of course Snow Peas are probably most famous for their co-star role in stir frys. Yum! And I always love a vegetable that can be eaten as is with no peeling or fuss. 

Snow Peas are also perfect raw, sliced and tossed into the beautiful salad greens we are getting at the market now. They offer tons of healthy benefits as well. They are LOADED with Vitamin C and also Vitamins K, A and a substantial amount of manganese, which supports healthy bones, blood clotting, metabolism and connective tissue. Snow Peas also offers tons of fiber, which is more critical to our good health and longevity than we realize. Ask any healthy, active centenarian from one of the 5 Blue Zones around the world.  

I envision a big green salad with sliced Snow Peas, sliced strawberries and cucumber drizzled with EVOO and a squeeze of lemon juice as the perfect lunch with a slice of sourdough bread. And when strawberries fade, blueberries can swap in for this healthy combo. I can also taste a simple potato salad using those beautiful new red potatoes we have started seeing at the market with sliced raw snow peas and scallions (talk about a Vitamin C bomb!) using olive oil instead of mayo as a delicious lunch or dinner companion to grilled meat. 

Enjoy these beauties from the farmers market for the best quality and highest nutrition! Buon appetito!