Skip to main content

Peas & Escarole

This quick side dish is so green and fresh-tasting that it seems the essence of spring, although with a package of frozen green peas, you can make it any time of year. Peas and escarole enhance each other wonderfully because of their contrasting tastes and textures.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

1 10-ounce package of frozen petite sweet peas (2 cups)
1 8-ounce head of escarole
1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
Generous pinches of salt, black pepper, and sugar

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Defrost the peas by placing them in a colander and running hot tap water over them for a minute. Thoroughly rinse the escarole and cut it into fine shreds (about 4 cups).

    Step 2

    In a skillet on medium heat, sauté the escarole in the oil or butter for a minute or two, until bright green and wilted. Add the peas, salt, pepper, and sugar and cook, stirring constantly, just until the peas are hot, a minute or two.

  2. Serving & menu ideas

    Step 3

    So green and sweet, this is the perfect side dish for Flounder with Herbed Lemon Butter (page 159). Or serve it with Yellow Rice (page 179) and Lemon Herb Tofu (page 68). It’s a delicious simple meal spooned on Polenta (page 184) or tossed with a chunky pasta and sprinkled with grated Parmesan.

Cover of the cookbook Moosewood Simple Suppers with a red floral motif.
From Moosewood Restaurant Simple Suppers: Fresh Ideas for the Weeknight Table. Copyright © 2017 by Moosewood Collective. Published by Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC. Buy the full book from ThriftBooks or Amazon.
Read More
Khao niaow ma muang, or steamed coconut sticky rice with ripe mango, is a classic in Thai cuisine—and you can make it at home.
Saucy, soy-honey salmon—cut into cubes to speed up the cooking process—makes a savory topping for a quick weeknight bowl.
These decadent brownies feature a sweet, minty topping complemented by a rich dark chocolate ganache and mini chocolate chips for added texture.
With just a handful of ingredients, this old-fashioned egg custard is the little black dress of dinner party desserts—simple and effortlessly chic.
This summery sheet-pan dinner celebrates the bounty of the season and couldn't be simpler to make. Chorizo plays nicely with the salad, thanks to its spice.
Juicy peak-season tomatoes make the perfect plant-based swap for aguachile.
With rich chocolate flavor and easy customization, this hot cocoa recipe is just the one you want to get you through winter.
Who says ground chicken is boring? Two whole bunches of mint and some aromatics give these chicken meatballs their bracingly herby flavor.