10 Ways to Cook Peas, the One Veggie All Kids Will Eat
Nothing tastes more like spring than a sweet pea bursting in your mouth. But you don’t have to use the fresh ones for kids to eat them up. Fresh or frozen, no vegetable is easier, more affordable or tastier to serve kids than peas. Here are 10 of our favorite ways to feature them.
Salty squares of fried prosciutto pair perfectly with sweet little peas in your kids’ new favorite side dish for spring.
This Ina Garten classic is a favorite with kids everywhere. That’s because kids love pesto. And pasta. And peas. It’s a trifecta of kids’ favorite flavors.
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Not sure if your kids like fish? This 15-minute dinner is also a one-pot wonder and a low-stakes way to include fish in your weeknight routine. Tip: Serve a fresh lemon wedge with each plate and let the kids drizzle all that fresh flavor on the fish themselves.
One-Pot Mac & Cheese with Peas
Freshly grated cheese, whole-wheat pasta and a couple of handfuls of peas make this one-pot dinner irresistible. Plus, there’s a secret ingredient that brings out more flavor than any homemade mac and cheese recipe you’ve ever tried!
Want to elevate the frozen peas and carrots you grew up on? Try this easy recipe, featured in Food Network Magazine, and roast them in the oven with fragrant spices.
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Stovetop Ravioli with Peas & Pancetta
This instant dinner is a favorite of my family’s from our days in Rome. It’s a pasta dish that replaces the same old red sauce with a tangy two-minute pan sauce your kids will flip for.
Giada De Laurentiis’ risotto takes a little extra time because of the stirring, but with a 5-star fan rating, you know the result is well worth it. Tip: If you have mushroom-averse eaters in your crowd, just disguise the shrooms a bit by dicing them before sauteing.
Renee Comet, 2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.
Another DIY dish, these tiny pieces of toast are perfect for kids to assemble at the table themselves.
This is not the thick and salty split-pea soup you’re thinking of. Instead it’s the taste of spring in a bowl, with leeks, chicken broth and tons of frozen peas all pureed together with a swirl of creme fraiche (or sour cream) on top.
Got toddlers or young eaters? Try this tiny pasta that Giada pairs with a creamy sauce of chicken stock, cream cheese and mascarpone cheese swirled together.
Charity Curley Mathews is a mom of four small kids, a contributor to InStyle and eHow Food, and the founder of Foodlets.com. Foodlets is about making only one dinner. About fresh food and simple shortcuts. About teaching kids to love good food, and enjoying it together — most of the time. Follow Foodlets on Instagram and you’ll never miss a recipe or tip.
