Peas are a legume that has been used in cooking for centuries. Its nutritional value and taste have been appreciated since ancient times. Housewives in Egypt, Rome and India eagerly used it to prepare various dishes. Nevertheless shelled peas were most popular in Europe in the Middle Ages, around the 15th century.
Poland also appreciated its taste, and even the kings themselves; some sources say that King Sigismund III Vasa loved to eat shelled peas with bacon. During the Polish People’s Republic it was one of the basic ingredients. For many people it can be a taste of childhood. With the increasing availability of other products, shelled peas have been somewhat sidelined. Nevertheless, it is worth remembering about it, because You can prepare many tasty dishes from it, and its health properties may surprise you.
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The most common variety is shelled peas yellow, which works best in soups and pureesit is more delicate and gentle. In stores you can also find the green variety, which has a sweeter taste and it is more compact. In addition, there is also a white variety. Shelled peas can be purchased both in halves, because they cook faster, and whole. In addition, due to the structure of the pod, the following are distinguished:
- Sugar peas – it is harvested after the pods have fully grown. It has no hard lining, which makes the entire pods edible.
- Shell peas – in this case, the pod is not edible, and the peas are harvested for the seeds, which are cleaned from the husk.
In 100 g of shelled peas (cooked) there are 118 kcal. In addition, it is a good source of protein (8.34 g) and fiber (8.3 g). It also contains vitamins, including vitamin C, A, E, K and those from the B group. It also provides calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc.
The high protein content makes shelled peas fill you up for a long time, so can support the weight loss process. Moreover, protein is an essential element in the process of building muscle tissue. In addition, research under the supervision of prof. Anne Raben from the University of Copenhagen pointed out that peas can be more filling than meat, including veal, which also has an impact on weight loss.
The analysis showed that meals based on plant protein provided a feeling of satiety for longer than those using animal protein. The study proved that participants with a diet based on plant protein consumed 12% less. fewer calories during your next meal. In addition cooked shelled peas have a low glycemic index (GI 22)making it a good choice for people with diabetes.
People with sensitive stomachs, reflux or peptic ulcer disease should be careful with shelled peas, because they may not tolerate it well. Moreover, it is better to exercise moderation even in the case of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.
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The most popular dishes based on shelled peas are pea soup and cabbage with peas. However, this legume has a much wider application. It is perfect for preparing homemade hummus, sandwich spreads, and even vegetarian cutlets or pates. It can also be a base for filling dumplings or an addition to salads and one-pot curry dishes.
However, in order for these dishes to turn out the best, it is worth knowing how to cook peas. There is no need to soak the halves, just rinse them under running water. The whole thing should be soaked for about 10 hours. The halves should be cooked for about 45 minutes and the whole one for about 1-1.5 hours. There may be scum that is worth taking down. The water is salted only at the end. Well-cooked peas should fall apart under the fork.
Sources: Terazgotuje.pl, fit.poradnikzdrowie.pl
