Product benefits
Such legumes are easily absorbed by the body; their regular consumption improves metabolism, strengthens the walls of blood vessels, and minimizes the risk of developing hypertension, malignant tumors, and heart attack.
This product contains vegetable protein and carbohydrates, so to some extent it replaces meat. Vitamins of several groups, fiber, carotene and sugar allow you to prepare not only a tasty, but also a healthy dish from peas. Even in dried form, the product does not lose its benefits; we list its medicinal properties:
- Improved digestion. Legumes contain soluble fiber; when digested, substances appear that remove bile from the body. Even a small serving of yellow split peas will provide more than half of your daily fiber requirement.
- Maintaining heart function. The product does not contain fats and reduces the amount of cholesterol in the blood. A recent study confirmed that eating legumes reduces the risk of death from heart disease by more than 80%.
- Preventing diabetes. Fiber prevents the rise in sugar levels and also reduces the amount of cholesterol, which affects overall well-being.
- Prevention of malignant tumors. Selenium, magnesium and zinc prevent the formation of tumors. Pea dishes also contain phytoestrogens, which have a positive effect on the condition of the female breast and male prostate.
Why is soaking preferable?
Ready pea soup
Experts recommend always soaking peas in cold water the night before preparing a nutritious meal. There are 2 main reasons for this:
- undoubtedly, the speed of cooking soaked peas increases significantly, as they become less dry and more loose;
- a soaked vegetable product is less likely to cause flatulence, and if you serve it with fresh herbs, you can forget about stomach problems.
By preparing peas that have not been soaked in advance, the housewife will spend twice as much time and effort preparing dinner. It is much easier to do the soaking the night before and prepare the soup as usual the next morning.
Selection and storage
Peas in soup or other dishes are usually used dry; they do not exceed 4 mm in diameter and are yellow or green in color. To quickly prepare it, a shelled product is used. Split peas are sensitive to moisture, so they are sold only in tight packaging that will eliminate this factor.
Manufacturers use translucent packaging to reassure consumers that there are no pests. Debris and additional husks in the packaging indicate a low grade product.
Split peas can be stored in an airtight container for several months. Along with it, put a bag with a small amount of salt in a plastic or glass container if there are concerns about moisture.
Features of cooking legumes
Dried split peas
Dried legumes such as peas, beans, chickpeas and others have a very dense structure. They require lengthy heat treatment and painstaking preparation. That is why, when planning to cook pea soup the next day, a woman should think about the cooking process the evening before.
The method and duration of cooking depend directly on the variety and type of peas chosen for cooking:
- by color (you can often find a green product in stores; its preparation time is shorter than yellow);
- split peas or whole ones (naturally, large granules will cook more slowly than halves);
- year of production (this factor is also one of the most important; the longer peas are stored on kitchen shelves, the harder they become, and accordingly the cooking time increases).
To increase the speed of cooking, you can pre-soak the peas and take split peas in halves rather than whole peas. To properly prepare and make the soup truly tasty, you need to know some cooking nuances.
How to cook peas?
Fresh, frozen and dried legumes are used in cooking. This changes the cooking time. Fresh and frozen peas are cooked for 15–20 minutes less. Dried legumes are cooked for 1–2 hours, the duration depends on the preliminary preparation and the chosen dish.
To speed up the process, pre-soaking is used, with which the finished dish requires 2 times less time. Place the peas in a container of cold water and leave for at least 6 hours, preferably overnight. In hot weather, beans are soaked for no longer than 8 hours, otherwise they will quickly turn sour. If the container still needs to be left for such a time, then the water in it is changed.
After pre-soaking, the split peas are cooked for 60 minutes. To prepare the puree, add another 15–20 minutes. Split peas are cooked for 1.5–2 hours without soaking, much depends on the variety.
How long does it take to cook peas until they are done?
We will take Idaho peas from the Mistral company as a basis for analyzing the process. Using different techniques and using different methods, peas are cooked in different amounts of time:
In a slow cooker
In this aspect, it is important to understand that the technique has several modes, respectively, in each of them, cooking peas takes a different time:
- In the “cereal” mode, the dish is prepared for 2-3 hours;
- In the “frying” mode, the process takes 1-2 hours;
- In the “quenching” mode, the event will take 1-1.5 hours.
Advice.
Much depends on the type of household appliance. Some models have a temperature regulator, while others change the temperature depending on the mode itself.
In a pressure cooker
Without soaking, the dish is prepared for 60 minutes in stewing mode, provided that 1 kg of peas is used per 1 liter of water. With soaking, the cooking time is reduced to 25-30 minutes until fully cooked.
In a saucepan
The most common cooking method is cooking in a saucepan. Without soaking, the process will take 2-2.5 hours, provided that whole peas are selected, not half. Crushed will cook in 1-1.5 hours. And after soaking, the event will be reduced to 35-40 minutes.
In the microwave
Cooking pea porridge in the microwave is the easiest and fastest way. Even without soaking, the process takes 25 to 40 minutes. The indicated time is average, for whole grains from preparing 200-300 gram portions.
No soaking
The most labor-intensive process is cooking peas without pre-soaking. The time in this case depends on the chosen dishes and method:
- Pressure cook for 30 minutes;
- Microwave 25-40;
- In the pan for an hour or two.
With soaking
If you soak the peas at night, by the morning they will soften and their cooking time will be significantly reduced. There are different time intervals for different methods:
- In a pressure cooker for 15-20 minutes;
- Microwave 10-15;
- In the pan for 40-60 minutes.
Chickpeas
Chickpeas are “chickpeas”, like their classic counterpart, which also takes a long time to prepare. Cooking methods:
- For use as a side dish or base for soup – 1 hour;
- For stewing as a main dish followed by frying - 40 minutes;
- For use as a pate base – 1.5-2 hours.
The main thing is not to add salt during the cooking process.
Whole
Whole peas take the longest to cook. Professional chefs recommend pre-soaking it overnight. Cooking legumes for soup or porridge in a regular saucepan over medium heat will take 2-2.5 hours.
In halves
Half peas cook much faster than whole peas. Cooking without pre-soaking will take only 1-1.5, provided that salt is not added to the water.
Crushed
This type of legume is cooked for only 40-60 minutes; depending on the heat level, this period can be reduced. It is highly not recommended to put high heat so that the water does not boil away and the peas do not burn.
In bags
In stores you can often find legumes that are packaged in portioned bags. In this case, the product should be cooked directly in the bag. Cooking will take only 20 minutes, and there is no need to soak it.
Fresh
Green peas are also boiled for various dishes. Young beans only take 5 minutes to cook. More ripe and stale products require cooking for 10-15 minutes.
Frozen
A frozen product should be defrosted first, without a microwave. Cooking takes 15-20 minutes. During the cooking process, salt can be added immediately, since after thawing the legumes have a soft structure.
Dry
The dry variety of the product requires a long cooking time, regardless of whether pre-soaking has been done or not. Cooking takes 2.5-3 hours. This period is due to the fact that during drying the peas become compacted and the cooking process during the cooking process hardly penetrates into their structure.
Green
Boil the canned product for 5 minutes over medium heat. If cooked for a long time, it may become boiled and lose its shape.
Leguminous
Beans of the legume variety are cooked for 10-15 minutes over medium heat. It is not recommended to cook this type of product in the microwave, otherwise it will be quite tough.
Sanded
The polished variety of legumes is cooked for only 20 minutes, without adding salt, under a closed lid in a saucepan.
For porridge
How long to cook pea porridge
For pea porridge, beans are cooked differently, depending on which variety is chosen.
- Dry whole – 2-2.5 hours with preliminary soaking;
- Half - 1-2 hours with soaking;
- Crushed – 40-60 minutes with pre-soaking.
For puree
To boil and grind peas into a puree form, cook the product for 2.5-3 hours over medium heat under a lid, stirring constantly.
In the soup
For pea soup, the legumes are soaked overnight, and in the morning they begin cooking for 1.5-2.5 hours (depending on the structure of the legumes).
For bait fishing
Peas are an excellent bait for river fish. It is boiled for 2-3 hours along with fat, bones, and the addition of flour. The last ingredient is needed for the stickiness of the entire mass. Then the bait is put into the tackle and bottom fish are caught.
Subtleties of cooking
The taste of the dish varies depending on the quality of the product and compliance with the rules for its preparation. Before cooking, beans are sorted to remove all spoiled peas and husks. After this, it is washed until the water becomes clear. This removes flour, which affects the taste and viscosity of the dish.
Cooking split peas without soaking is not recommended. In case of pre-treatment, add 2 times more water to the bowl than cereal. When whole peas are used, add 3 times more water. The cooking time is measured after boiling, and a tbsp is also added to the pan. l. vegetable oil, otherwise the peas will burn.
When the liquid boils, it is added, but only hot. Add salt at the end, otherwise the cooking time will increase. If there is no time for pre-soaking, then fry the peas in a hot frying pan for 15 minutes without oil.
Cooking time for peas in gadgets
In a slow cooker
Cook split peas without soaking for 1 hour on the “Stew” mode, with soaking for 45 minutes, whole peas with soaking for 1.5 hours.
Microwave (split peas only)
: soak the peas, then rinse and add water, cook in the microwave at 500 watts for 20 minutes, then stir and cook for another 20 minutes at the same power, then cover the dish and cook for another 15 minutes.
In a pressure cooker
Cook split peas for 15 minutes, whole peas for 30 minutes + soaking.
The variety of peas, their age and water hardness are very important - be sure to taste the peas before finishing cooking; the cooking time for low-grade peas, if they are old grains, is up to 4 hours.
Dishes with peas
Legumes are usually used to prepare first courses, but their use in cooking is not limited to this.
Cream soup
Suitable for those who are fasting or want to give up meat for a while. It will take about 2 hours to prepare the dish, but it will turn out very satisfying.
- Soak the peas in cold water for 6 hours.
- Drain the liquid and transfer the cereal to a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat. Cook for an hour.
- Peel the potatoes and cut into cubes.
- When the cereal is almost completely cooked, add the potatoes.
- Grate the carrots on a coarse grater, chop the onions, and prepare them for frying.
- Drain the broth from the vegetables into a separate container, grind them in a blender along with the frying. If you have submersible equipment at home, the water is not drained.
- Pour the puree into the pan and add the broth. Add salt, pepper, nutmeg and other spices to taste.
This soup is usually served with garlic croutons; for this, the bread is cut into cubes and the chopped garlic is fried in oil. The ingredients are combined in one container and the bread is brought to a golden state.
Meatballs
They are deep-fried, so the dish takes a minimum of time. For it you will need 50 g of cheese, 400 g of boiled peas, 3 tbsp. l. breadcrumbs, one egg and a medium onion, salt and ground pepper, 4 tbsp. l. flour, 300 ml oil for frying.
- Grind the cheese on a fine grater, chop the onion.
- Mix the peas with the remaining ingredients, add everything except flour and butter.
- You should get a sticky mass, leave it for 15 minutes.
- Wet your hands and form small balls.
- Dip them in flour and then deep fry them. If there is no special device for this, then a deep saucepan or cauldron will do.
- Stirring occasionally, fry them for 10 minutes.
- Place the meatballs on napkins to remove any remaining oil.
Mushroom puree
Used as a side dish or an independent dish. To prepare, take 200 g of split peas and the same amount of mushrooms, 1 tbsp. l. oils, salt, pepper, one carrot and one onion.
- Sort the peas and soak them in cold water for 20 minutes.
- The next day, drain the water, transfer to a saucepan and simmer for 45 minutes. When the cereal is almost ready, add 1 tsp. soda
- Cut the mushrooms into cubes and peel them from the film, chop the onion, fry together until tender.
- Grate the carrots and add them to the pan.
- Simmer everything together for 5 minutes until the vegetables are ready.
- Pour the pea broth into a glass and grind it with a masher or blender. Add liquid to puree.
- Add vegetables to the pan and stir. If the dish is too thick, add more water.
Knowing how long it takes to cook peas, you can predict the cooking time and prepare the cereal in advance so as not to simmer it for 2 hours.
Do not forget that during cooking, salt is added last, and the peas are first sorted and washed in cold water. Spices to add to your pea soup
How long to cook peas if you soak them first
Frozen pea recipes
To soften the peas
- be sure to soak any peas - soaked and then washed peas can be calcined in a frying pan, stirring constantly, for 15 minutes over low heat. - add a spoonful of butter when cooking peas.
- when soaking, it is important not to overdo it
peas - they can turn sour from prolonged soaking. To be on the safe side, soaked peas should be refrigerated.
About the benefits of peas
— Peas are good for health
— rich in vitamins (ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, antioxidant protection) and mineral salts (potassium, which ensures acid-base balance), thiamine (improves brain function). Peas contain a lot of vegetable protein.
— Calorie content
peas - 310 kcal per 100 grams.
— Price
peas in Moscow stores - split from 45 rubles/kg, whole from 50 rubles/kg (as of June 2021).
— Shelf life
raw peas - from 12 months to 2 years. Boiled peas can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Simple pea soup recipe
Ingredients for making pea soup
peas - 1 glass potatoes - 2-3 potatoes smoked pork ribs - 300-500 grams carrots - 1 piece onions - 1 piece Salt - teaspoon Ground black pepper - half a teaspoon.
Making pea soup
Coarsely chop the smoked ribs, place in a saucepan, add water and bring to a boil. Add washed peas and cook over medium heat for 25 minutes. Then add finely chopped potatoes and cook over low heat for another 15 minutes. Fry grated carrots and finely chopped onion. Add carrots and onions to the pan and cook for another 7-10 minutes. Your classic pea soup is ready! Serve with crackers and fresh herbs.
How to cook pea porridge
Products for pea porridge
Dried split peas - 1 cup Vegetable oil - 5 tablespoons Cream 10 percent - 200 milliliters Onions - 1 head Carrots - 1 piece Red bell pepper - 1 piece
Pea porridge recipe
Soak the peas for 10 hours, wash and cook. Grind the boiled peas using a blender, add cream, bring to a boil, add salt and cook for another 10 minutes over low heat. Peel the onions and carrots, remove the seeds and stems from the sweet peppers. Finely chop the onion, grate the carrots, chop the pepper. Fry the onion in a frying pan, then add carrots and peppers, fry everything together, stirring, for 10 minutes. Serve pea porridge with fried vegetables on top. You can also add lard, bacon, stewed meat, and minced meat to the frying.
How to cook peas for carp fishing?
Fishermen know that carp are partial to peas, so they need to be cooked correctly. For these purposes, you can use grains from the new harvest or last year.
How to cook peas for carp fishing:
- It is necessary to soak the peas for 8 hours, and in the morning pour them onto a steamer, cover with some kind of mesh fabric, preferably gauze, and press down with pressure. This is done so that the peas do not soften and separate. This way it will be easy to put it on the hook. Next, turn on the steamer and cook for 30 minutes.
- If you don’t have a double boiler, you can prepare a kind of homemade water bath. For these purposes, peas are also soaked for 5 hours, after which they are placed in a saucepan and filled with water in a ratio of 1:3. After this, the pan is placed in another container with boiling water. The structure is placed on the fire and cooked for an hour and a half.
- Next, at the very end of cooking, the water is drained and vegetable oil is added. Readiness is checked using a toothpick or hook. It is necessary that the pea is pierced with some effort. The fact is that peas for carp and fishing cannot be overcooked, since they must retain all the nutrients that attract fish so much.
- Therefore, under no circumstances take rotted, old grains that have been crushed by beetles. It is necessary that the raw materials are absolutely fresh, whole and suitable for human consumption. Try to choose beans of the same color and variety. The fact is that carps love fresh peas, but if they don’t have it, you can use dry ones, after boiling them.
For fishing
Peas are a nutritious crop that takes a very long time to cook. But if you follow the rules, you will be able to speed up the cooking process.
