Pea Puree is a beloved choice in fine dining, appreciated for the vibrant burst of color it brings to a plate, serving both as a side and a sauce, along with its sweet flavor that complements nearly any protein!
Welcome to Day 14 of the inaugural Holiday Salad Marathon, where I am presenting 30 salads consecutively until Christmas Eve. This offers a refreshing alternative to the typical sugar-laden baking countdowns!! I acknowledge that today’s dish may not be classified strictly as a salad, but it is indeed prepared with vegetables (peas qualify!).
Furthermore, it serves as an exceptionally good side dish for the Rack of Lamb I recently published, so I assert that it meets the criteria! I also believe this dish is an excellent accompaniment for roasts and other grand centerpieces that grace the festive table.
I appreciate how it introduces a vibrant splash of color to any setting. Additionally, it provides a delightful change from the usual mashed potatoes, wouldn’t you agree? 🙂 Cooking peas for Pea Puree
What exactly is pea puree? It consists of cooked peas that are blended until smooth. The flavor is distinctly that of peas – sweet and subtly nuanced, making it an ideal side dish for a variety of meals. It is a favorite in fine dining establishments, often used to elegantly smear across a plate before artfully placing a piece of protein on top.
Basic recipes typically involve boiling the peas with stock or broth and then blending, which is acceptable, but it merely tastes like peas. To prepare Pea Puree in the manner of fine dining restaurants, begin by sautéing garlic and shallots in butter before incorporating the peas and stock. This single additional step significantly enhances the flavor, resulting in a luxurious pea puree.
Ingredients for Pea Puree
Here’s what you will require:
Indeed, you are seeing frozen peas. I fully endorse the concept of snap freezing!!
If you have the opportunity to pod your own peas, I commend you. (And please extend an invitation for dinner).
Pea Puree prepared in a food processor
Optional straining – for an ultra-smooth texture
I must be honest – if you are dining at my home for a casual meal, I will present Pea Puree to you directly from the food processor. If your appliance is powerful enough, it will be sufficiently smooth.
However, if you aspire to achieve a restaurant-quality finish, pass it through a mesh colander or sieve. It is a simple task using a rubber spatula and takes less than a minute to complete.
By doing this, the pea puree will attain the silky smoothness akin to that served at upscale restaurants!
Straining Pea Puree
The remnants left in the colander consist of the skins of the peas.
A bowl of silky smooth pea puree, ready for serving.
Close-up of the ultra-smooth pea puree.
How to serve Pea Puree
Pea Puree is exceptional when paired with nearly any protein, not only for the vibrant color it contributes to any plate or dish but also for its subtle sweetness.
It serves as both a side dish and a sauce, and the reason I am sharing this recipe is that it is recommended as a side/sauce for the Rosemary Crumbed Rack of Lamb I recently shared. For an authentic British touch, you might incorporate some finely chopped mint into the puree, offering a modern and far more appealing version of the traditional mint sauce served with lamb!
Pea Puree complements virtually any protein – whether meat or seafood. Here are a few suggestions:
A simple baked Chicken Breast or a pan-fried piece of fish.
It would look magnificent beneath a Crispy Skin Salmon or any plain baked or pan-fried fish (in fact, that’s a favorite in upscale restaurants!)
It pairs excellently with Crackling Roast Pork and is a perfect match with a buttery Herb & Garlic Roast Chicken.
OTHER RECIPES
A great French Pea sauce recipe to try !
INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon olive oil
¼ cup diced white onions
1 clove garlic, minced
6 ounces fresh peas, shelled
1 ½ cups stock, ( vegetable or chicken )
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon white pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
Heat the oil in a sauce pan, add the onion and garlic and sauté until cooked but not browned, add the peas and stock. Bring to the boil and reduce the heat, simmer for 15 minutes. Cool and then blend/ puree with an electric blender. Season with salt and pepper as needed. For a richer French pea sauce add a spoon of sour cream.
A bright, elegant, spring-green French-style sauce made from sweet peas, fresh mint, butter, and cream (or optional lighter versions). Smooth, fragrant, and versatile.
A tender pan-seared or baked salmon fillet served under a velvety cream-and-pea sauce scented with fresh dill, lemon, and shallots. Elegant enough for entertaining yet simple enough for a weeknight.
INGREDIENTS (Serves 4)
For the Salmon
4 salmon fillets, 6 oz (170 g) each (skin on or off)
1–2 tbsp olive oil or butter
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp lemon zest
Optional: 1 tsp Dijon mustard to brush on top before cooking
Optional: 1 tsp garlic powder or 1 garlic clove, minced
Optional enhancements:
Brush the tops lightly with Dijon mustard for extra flavor or sprinkle with a little garlic powder.
Let sit at room temperature for 10–15 minutes.
2. Cook the Salmon
Pan-Seared (best flavor)
Heat 1–2 tbsp olive oil or butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Place salmon skin-side down if the skin is on. Press lightly for first 10 seconds so the fillet doesn’t curl.
Cook 4–6 minutes until the skin is crisp and the salmon is mostly opaque from bottom to top.
Flip gently and cook 1–2 minutes more until just cooked through or still slightly rosy in the center.
Oven-Baked Option
Preheat oven to 400°F (205°C).
Brush salmon lightly with oil and bake 10–14 minutes depending on thickness.
Remove as soon as it flakes easily with a fork.
Poached Option (very delicate)
Simmer broth + lemon + herbs and gently poach salmon for 7–10 minutes.
Set cooked salmon aside, loosely covered, while making the sauce.
3. Make the Dilled Creamed Pea Sauce
Use the same skillet if pan-searing salmon—this adds flavor.
Sauté aromatics
Melt the butter with olive oil over medium heat.
Add shallots and cook 2–3 minutes until softened and fragrant.
Add garlic and stir 30 seconds.
Add peas
Add peas and toss with the aromatics.
If using fresh peas, cook 2–3 minutes longer.
Deglaze and enrich
Add broth and simmer 2 minutes.
Stir in the cream (or half-and-half).
Bring mixture to a gentle simmer—not boiling.
Season
Add:
Salt
Pepper
Lemon juice
Nutmeg (if using)
Dill
Optional: Dijon mustard
Let the sauce simmer gently 4–6 minutes until slightly thickened and peas are tender.
Sauce thickness:
It should be silky, spoonable, and able to coat the fish without running all over the plate.
4. Combine and Serve
Place salmon fillets on warm plates.
Spoon the warm dilled creamed pea sauce generously over each piece, or serve the sauce underneath as a creamy “bed.”
Garnish with:
More chopped dill
Lemon or a swirl of crème fraîche
Cracked black pepper
Serve immediately.
SIDE DISH SUGGESTIONS
Pair with foods that complement rich cream sauces and bright dill:
Add pasta and peas; cook until the pasta is tender and the peas are cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.
Cook prosciutto, stirring, until it begins to brown, about 5 minutes.
Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds.
Add mushrooms and cook, stirring, until they release their juices and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 4 minutes.
Sprinkle flour over the mushrooms; stir to coat.
Add wine and let simmer for 1 minute.
Add broth, return to a simmer and cook, stirring, until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes.
1. In a 3- to 4-quart pan over high heat, bring broth and split peas to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer until peas fall apart, about 50 minutes.
2. In a 5- to 6-quart pan over high heat, bring 2 quarts water to a boil; add ravioli. Stir occasionally until pasta is tender to bite, 4 to 6 minutes; drain.
3. Meanwhile, transfer split pea mixture to a blender or food processor; whirl until smooth.
4. Remove and discard stems from chilies; shake out and discard seeds. Wipe the 3- to 4-quart pan dry. Add chilies, oil, garlic, and cumin; stir over medium-high heat until garlic is lightly browned, about 1 minute.
5. Pour split pea purée into pan with chili mixture. Add spinach, tomatoes, and turmeric; stir just until steaming.
6. Add drained ravioli to sauce and mix gently. Spoon equally into wide bowls. Add salt and pepper to taste.
French Pea Sauce....