Mushy Peas

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Serve this classic British pub dish with fish and chips.

By

Barry Tonkinson

Published on January 12, 2024

Tested by

Marianne Williams

Modern Mushy Peas — Photo:
Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

Active Time:

10 mins

Total Time:

15 mins

Yield:

4 servings

Chef Barry Tonkinson re-created the traditional mushy peas he ate while growing up in England with this version, which calls for frozen peas instead of dried marrowfat peas.

Frequently asked questions

What are mushy peas?

Mushy peas are a traditional side dish in British pubs and at home, often served with fish and chips.

What kind of peas do you use to make mushy peas?

Traditional British mushy peas are made with dried marrowfat peas, which are peas left to dry outside in the field rather than be harvested while still young. This recipe calls for frozen peas that are easily available at any grocery store.

Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen

We loved how well seasoned these peas are, and their beautiful color. The smooth texture of the blended peas and shallots is really appealing, along with some larger chunks of peas and mint that are pulsed in after.

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Ingredients

2 cups frozen peas
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 large shallots (2 ounces total), finely chopped
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon rice wine vinegar, plus more as needed
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
4 mint sprigs, leaves and stems chopped

Directions

Heat a small pot of salted water to a boil, add peas and cook until bright green and soft, about 1 minute. Transfer peas to a bowl of iced water, stir until cool, then drain. Set aside 1/2 cup of the peas.
Melt butter in a large saute pan over medium. Add shallots and cook until soft, about 4 minutes. Add peas to pan and stir to combine.
Remove peas and shallots from heat and pour into a food processor. Add cream and blend to a fine puree, about 1 minute. Add rice wine vinegar and salt and pulse to combine. Add reserved peas and mint and pulse to form a chunky pea mixture. Heat and serve immediately.