Summer 2023 in Uk is chillier than I thought it would be! To say the least.
 
I remember the warm sunny days, weeks sometimes, where everyone was outside barbecuing… Then I look outside my window; and I see some nasty deep black clouds on the horizon, a wind that could snap the branches of secular trees, heavy pouring rain, and I think to myself… “I want my summer back!”
 
Doesn’t make it any easier knowing that back in my hometown everyone is totally melting from the heat.
 
Well, I guess this weather is better, in some ways.
 
So, in an effort to withhold my summer spirit, I prepared this vibrant, flavourful, super fresh pea mash dish. It’s packed with proteins from the peas, and flavour from the abundant fresh herbs and the charred cherry tomatoes.
 
It also received the so rare stamp of approval from my picky husband, so I’m positive you will like it too!
 
Let’s dive in.

List of Ingredients

garden peas, frozen, 500gr
mint, 10gr
chive, 5gr
oregano, 10gr
rocket, 20gr
black cracked peppercorn, 1/2 tsp
salt flakes, 1 tbsp
table salt, 2 tbsp
extra virgin olive oil, 3 tbsp + more to drizzle on top
toasted mixed seeds, 15gr
croutons, 10gr
cherry tomatoes, 15ea (around 170gr)

Servings

5 people, as side dish

Method

First off we have to blanch the peas. Pour a generous 4 to 5 litres of water in a pot and bring it to a boil. Add the table salt and stir till it dissolves. Prepare next to it a bowl with ice cold water (and I mean ice cold!). Reduce the heat to medium, and carefully toss the peas in the pot and let them cook for 3-4 minutes, until they are completely thawed, but still retaining a vibrant green colour. Immediately transfer them into the ice cold water, and let them sit for about 10 minutes.

In the meantime, finely chop the herbs. Once the peas are cooled, carefully drain them from the water, and transfer them into a food processor, add the herbs, the salt, the pepper and 2 of the 3 tbsp of oil and roughly blitz into a paste. Set aside.

Preheat a cast iron grill pan, wash and pat dry the cherry tomatoes, dress them with 1 tbsp of olive oil, and cook them in the pan for about 5-6 minutes per side. Let them get those lovely char marks on the skin, but don’t let them become too soft (or they might break apart and loose all their juices). I

t’s finally time to assemble! Lay the mash at the centre of the serving plate, and using a spatula or a spoon, create some dimension by pushing the mash down, and spreading it until it almost reaches the edge of the plate. Sprinkle on top the rocket, the croutons, the seeds and the cherry tomatoes, and drizzle with extra olive oil, a pinch of salt flakes, and more cracked black pepper if you want.

And last but not least, Bon Appétit!