Friday 4 August 2017

Latvian Soup Peas

So one storage crop is now safely gathered in, my soup peas!
Now I'll level with you, I've not grown these or used them for cooking before but I thought they sounded interesting so I hope they taste good! 
They grew amazingly well (and looked beautiful), but in this country we never have quiet enough dry weather to dry them on the plant outside so instead I picked all the pods and put them on some drying racks I'd made. If I had more inside space I could have picked the whole plants and hung them up.
After about three weeks they'd dried out so all the pods were crisp and easy to break. 
My wife and I sat and podded all the peas whilst the girls were preparing some french beans for the freezer. Not a bad job outside on the patio in the sunshine. 
Although not the most impressive haul, we harvested about 2kg (4lb ish) of dried peas from a 10ft by 30" bed, I could have also sown them a little thicker if I wanted as well. 

Who else grows peas for drying?
How do you use them?

15 comments:

  1. I've never tried soup peas, but I do grow borlotti beans for soup & stews. An Italian gardener gave me the tip of letting the beans fully mature, but picking & podding them before they start to dry out on the plant. They can then be stored in the freezer as 'fresh' beans & cooked directly from frozen in soups etc without the need to soak. I find this makes them much more convenient to use.

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    1. I'll be growing borlitti next year, it's been a few years since I have and in the past we'd never end up using them. But at the time we both had busy jobs, now I'm at home more I can dedicate more time to cooking so using dried produce is fine. i like the idea of freezing them but Freezer space is at a premium (and we've got three!

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  2. I don't have a garden, but your peas are magnificent.

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    1. Thanks, They looked lovely in flower - wish I took a picture!

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  3. This year I am trying chick peas, butter beans and ying yang beans for drying

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    1. Chick peas have been no good for me but I'm interested to see how you do. I had some lentles in earlier int eh year but they didn't like the conditions and I don't think there's a plant left!

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  5. That looks like quite the impressive harvest. I've never grown any peas but sugar snap. You'll have to cook some and let usknow how it goes.

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    1. I've not grown peas for a few years and this year I've realised what we've been missing out on, I love them!

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  6. What are Latvian soup peas? I have been cooking 'mushy peas' for soup, but always have to use the mixer on them because the skins are a bit ...
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  7. Did you find any recipes last year for your Latvian Soup Peas. I've grown them this year, got a good crop, but need a recipe!

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    1. I just used them with a pea and ham soup recipe. I loved it but my dad complained because the soup was grey!

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  8. Thanks for this. I've just picked all my Latvian Soupers some of them are dry, and some aren't I was wondering whether to shell the green ones and leave them on a tray on the window sill to dry, or leave them in the pods. You have provided the answer. Best wishes and thanks again.

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  9. Did you have any problems with Pea moth? Do you net?

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