Last week I was in my grandfather’s garden in Kadikoy, Yalova, Turkey.  Everytime I’m in his garden I am inspired to start a garden of my own.  I hope to by next year.  He truly has magical fingers as they say green thumbs.  Currently the picking is in season for green peas, but last week was its last.  I had the pleasure of sitting with my aunts and cousins to open and pick the peas from the pods. After three nights of picking and eating fresh peas, I had hoped to bring some fresh peas to the states but unfortunately I was not able to.  Upon my return, I picked up a couple of frozen peas packs and the outcome was awesome.

Recipe as follows:

Sweet Garden Peas with Minced Meat

2 medium yellow onion

¾ lb of lightly fatted chopped meat (could be beef, veal, lamb)

2 packets of frozen 1 lb (453grams) sweet garden peas

2 carrots

2 potatoes

4 cups of water

3 tablespoons of olive oil

salt – as per your taste

2 teaspoons of black pepper

2 teaspoons of dry mint (will be used as season at the end)

 

Peal and dice the onion and sauté with the olive oil until soft, add the chopped meat and sauté until the meat is completely cooked add some salt and black pepper. 

Peal the carrots and potatoes, slice the carrots and dice the potatoes about the size of a sugar cube.  Not to thick and not to thin.  Add the carrots and potatoes in with the meat and onion and sauté.  Cut open the pea packets and place them in a large strainer, wash and drain the peas under lukewarm water and place it in the pot with the rest of the sautéing ingredients.  Add 4 cups of water or (until the water covers and meets evenly with the peas) add salt and pepper and leave to boil over medium to high heat. Cooking time is Approx 15-20 min. You will know it is cooked when the carrots and the potatoes are soft, lastly stir in the dry mint leaves.

    

Remember:  The objective is to make sure that the carrots and potatoes are cooked through.  Remember you are using frozen peas and frozen peas do not require much cooking time.

 

Serve with hardy crusted bread!  It’s great spicy as well, just add a teaspoon of red pepper flakes to your own dish!

 

Delicious!

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