What are different types of field Peas?
Black-eyed peas are the most popular in the South, but many cooks don't realize there are other options.We should.Although black-eyed peas are good, they are the Red Delicious apples of the field pea universe, a bit generic and not necessarily the tastiest or most interesting.
What are field peas?Green English peas have little in common with beans.Field peas were named after them because they were grown in the fields instead of in kitchen gardens.heirloom selections were grown in Southern communities that valued them for their flavor and ability to flourish in local conditions.The seeds were passed down from family to family.In the South, we still have heirloom types with charming names such as Whippoorwill, Dimpled Brown Crowder, Turkey Craw, Washday, Red Ripper, and Old Timer.
Unlike dried black-eyed peas that are shipped far and wide, fresh peas stick close to home.Farmers' markets, family gardens, and hometown grocery stores are some of the best sources for them.A single shopping trip can reveal a lot.Like summer tomatoes, peak-of-season peas are hard to beat.We can preserve the harvest if they freeze and keep well.
The shelling of field peas is done by most markets.Fresh peas cook in less time than dried peas and beans.They have a wide range of flavor and texture, but they are usually lighter and less murky than dried black-eyed peas.The Sea Island red pea, the original used in hoppin' John, is one of the excellent Southern types that can be dried.
Many of us eat field peas for luck on January 1, but to limit them to a single winter day is a mistake.Field peas are easy to find in the South.We were lucky.
If you can't find a specific pea in a recipe, you're free to find what you want.There are different types of field peas.Some of our favorite field peas can be found here.