People often ask: “What is the difference between snow peas and sugar snap peas?” Both are eaten whole, including the delicious and crunchy pod. Snow peas are flat, and are cooked quickly to preserve their sweet crunchiness. Sugar snap peas are a cross between the English pea and snow peas, so they are rounder like the English pea pod but the tasty, delicate pod is edible too.
Pure Fresh snow peas and sugar snap peas are refreshing and healthy on their own and a colorful addition to vegetable medleys and sautés. Grown on Pure Fresh farms in Guatemala, snow peas and sugar snap peas are available year round, with peak season from October through May. Stringless and trimmed immediately after harvesting, they are sold in convenient packages for the individual consumer as well as in bulk packages for food service.
Snow peas and sugar snap peas have relatively fewer calories than English peas. Because they are eaten with the sugary, crunchy pod, they are very high in healthy fiber, which helps with weight control, reduce cholesterol, and help with your digestion. For the same reason, they are also high in vitamins, minerals, and other plant nutrients.
Snow peas and sugar snap peas, like most vegetables, are best when eaten fresh. But they will keep in the refrigerator in their convenient Pure Fresh package for several days.
It’s always a good idea to soak vegetables, including snow peas and sugar snap peas, in cold water for ten minutes or so to plump and revive them if you’ve been storing them for any length of time.
If you’re planning ahead and won’t use your snow peas or sugar snap pears right away, these tantalizing peas can be frozen for later use. Blanch quickly until bright green in boiling water, drain well and dry, and store in airtight containers in the freezer.
Snow peas are delicious raw in salads. Try them with slivered shallots and toasted sesame seeds. Snow peas are a familiar ingredient in stir-fry dishes and should be quickly cooked, either by steaming, boiling, or sautéing. Fast fry your snow peas in hot oil and flavor with toasted sesame oil and soy sauce or ginger and fresh mint. Great with beef, chicken, and shrimp. Or drop the snow peas in chicken or beef broth with other vegetables for a quick, nutritious soup.
Try roasting sugar snap peas by tossing in oil or butter, salt and pepper, and baking in a hot oven until crisp. Sugar snap peas are also scrumptious fried in a hot pan with sliced lemon and garlic.
