English Pea Spread with Crostini
This incredible spread showcases the delicious flavour and texture of freshly shelled English Peas. Slather it on crusty bread, your favourite cracker, or add to penne pasta for a quick dinner.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs fresh English peas (still in their pods)
- 1 lemon, zested and reserved for juice
- 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
- 1/2 cup FRESHLY shredded parmesan
- pinch of chili flakes
- salt to taste
- crusty French baguette or Italian ciabatta loaf, sliced diagonally into ovals
Instructions
- Fill a large bowl with cold water and ice. Bring a litre of water to a boil in a medium pot. While the water is heating, shell the peas and place them in a bowl.
- Once the water is boiling, add a teaspoon of salt and the peas. Blanche for 15-30 seconds until just barely tender. Quickly drain and plunge the peas into the prepared ice bath to prevent overcooking.
- Drain the peas and add a generous squeeze of lemon juice with a pinch of salt. Use an immersion blender or masher to roughly puree the peas. Add the toasted pine nuts and puree again to your preferred consistency.
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese, chili flakes, and about 1 teaspoon of lemon zest. Taste and adjust the seasoning, adding more salt if needed.
- Spread the pea mixture on the bread slices and garnish with more lemon zest. Enjoy immediately.
