How to Prepare Pea Pods

Pea pods are good to eat raw, or can be softened by a simple steaming.

Pea pods have a variety of uses in several recipes and are commonly found in Asian recipes. They are available either fresh or frozen, and can be prepared in a number of ways. They can be sauteed, grilled and even eaten raw. The most common preparation of pea pods is a simple steaming, after which they can be added as a topping to another recipe, or simply eaten on their own as a side dish.

Things You'll Need

• Small metal steam basket
• Small metal pan
• Paper towels

Instructions

1. Clean the pea pods with tap water. Rinse them thoroughly, and then snap off both ends. Set them aside to dry out. If there are strings on the pods, peel them off before cooking.

2. Pour a relatively small amount of water into the pan -- roughly 1 or 2 inches. Bring the water to a boil.

3. Place the pea pods in the steam basket while the water is heating up. Arrange them so they cook evenly.

4. Place the steam basket on top of the pan and water once it has reached a boil. Close the basket, and let the pods steam for two to five minutes, depending on how crisp you want them.

5. Remove the pea pods from the basket and serve. Season with salt and pepper if desired.

Tips & Warnings

• For another approach, consider sauteing the pea pods in a pan with a small amount of olive oil. Simply clean them and then place them in a pan with oil. Heat and serve.

References

• Start Cooking: How to Cook with Snow Peas