When it comes to veggie treats, peas serve as one of the finest delights!
From soups to pastas and from salads to risottos, peas add a great flavor to a lot of dishes. Besides a sweet, plump taste, these little greens are packed with a significant amount of essential nutrients, making them a perfect fit for your healthy diet!
Peas are typically harvested in April and November but are available on the market for almost all the year. Once they’ve past their prime time, peas can be cooked and blended anyway.
They can be bought fresh, frozen, dried, or canned, depending upon your use. But what if, for some reason, peas are not available on the market? Well, we’ve got you covered.
There are a variety of options that may serve as potential substitutes for peas. This article includes some of the finest alternatives to look for when peas are not around. So, if you are looking for one, keep reading!
What are Peas?
The pea plant, scientifically called Pisum sativum, includes a green seed pod or tiny spheres inside it. These pods are commonly known as peas. Although the pod is frequently used as a vegetable, it is botanically a fruit because it grows from a flower and has seeds.
For some types, including snow and snap peas, the entire pods and the seeds inside are consumed. However, garden peas, commonly known as sweet peas, have their seeds separated from their pods, which are then thrown away.
Peas are one of the most widely grown foods in the world. They are used in cuisines all across the world. Be it Indian curries, Swedish soups, Chinese stir-fries, or Hungarian dumplings, nearly everyone in the world consumes peas in some form or another.
Peas are often a cheap and simple-to-cook superfood that is packed with nutrients. A ½ cup or 170 grams serving of peas has the following nutritional value.
- 62 calories
- 11 grams of carbohydrates
- 4 grams of fiber
- 4 grams protein
- Vitamin A, K, and C with 34%, 24%, and 13% of the RDI respectively
The best substitute for peas
Here are some of the potential substitutes for peas. We’ve done thorough research to find these options that not only make up for their taste but are equally nutritious as peas.
#1 Black-eyed peas
Black-eyed peas are one of the most widely used alternatives to peas that work in practically any dish. They taste very earthy and have a nutty flavor but they are not sweet like green peas.
They can be used to create delectable stews and salads. They can also be combined with rice.
A ½ cup serving of black-eyed peas includes the following nutrients;
- Calories: 99
- Protein: 7 grams
- Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 18 grams
- Fiber: 6 grams
So, the next time you want to give your dinner a lovely finish, don’t forget to include these incredibly nutritious peas!
#2 Lima beans
The Lima beans are an intriguing and nice flavor combination that will give your dishes a more unique flavor than peas. They taste very sweet and nutty and should be carefully cooked to avoid overcooking. You can know that they are cooked when they start to taste harsh and sulfurous.
Lima beans come in a variety of colors, but the light green or cream-colored one is the most well-known.
½ cup of cooked, dry lima beans can provide you with;
- 166 calories
- 8g fat
- 7g proteins
- 18g carbohydrates
- 6g fiber
You can use them in salads or pasta to increase the protein content of your meals. They work well in dishes that call for beans when combined with maize or other vegetables.
#3 Fresh cranberry beans
Peas can be effectively replaced with cranberry beans. Because fresh is always preferable, fresh cranberry beans are extremely sweet and delicate in flavor. These beans are often used in Italian, Portuguese, and Greek cooking.
The flavor and texture of cranberry beans are moderate, nutty, and creamy. These beans are also very attractive, pale in color, and speckled with cranberries.
A ½ cup serving of these beans has the following nutritional value;
- 327 calories
- 1.2 g fats
- 59 g carbohydrates
- 24 g fiber
- 23 g protein
#4 Edamame
The edamame beans are another healthful food on our list of best substitutes for peas. They are soybeans that have not reached full maturity when they are harvested. The edamame pods are not meant to be consumed and you have to squeeze the beans out of their shells, to consume them.
They are also often used in Asian cuisine. They include dietary fiber and are a good source of protein. In addition, they are rich in vitamins and minerals.
In many recipes that call for peas, you can use an alternative.
#5 Crowder peas
Crowder peas are another excellent alternative to peas. They are linked to black-eyed peas as both belong to the cowpea family.
Crowder peas are light-colored legumes with a distinctive white eye in the center. However, compared to the purple hull or black-eyed peas, their central eye is less noticeable.
These peas are widely available in canned form. A ½ cup serving if packed with;
- 90 calories
- 18g carbohydrates
- 0 fat
- 5g proteins
It must be noted that crowder peas in cans might not require cooking unless you want to add some spices.
#6 Fava beans
The fava bean had been one of the most favored alternatives to peas. In the UK, they are frequently cultivated and eaten.
The fava bean has been a staple cuisine in Britain for a long time, notably for millennia. This nutrient-dense superfood can serve you with;
- 150 calories
- 7g fat
- 16g carbs
- 6g protein
- 4g fiber
Fava beans grow successfully in a variety of climates and are readily available in practically all British shops, but over time, their appeal has waned.