Jean in Newcastle Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 This is a spin off of the fish n' chips thread. I was reading a British mystery and it talked about ordering mushy peas with their fish and chips. Is that just overcooked peas? Is it a "thing"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsrevmeg Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 We saw a can of those. They looked like just ordinary green peas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 it's kinda like pea soup...but not so soupy The peas are soaked in baking soda (to make them less "farty") and then mushed up into a soupy consistency. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrissiK Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 it's kinda like pea soup...but not so soupy The peas are soaked in baking soda (to make them less "farty") and then mushed up into a soupy consistency. Really? I'm trying not to "yuck someone else's yum" here, but... That just doesn't sound very good to me. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Really? I'm trying not to "yuck someone else's yum" here, but... That just doesn't sound very good to me. LOL Yeah I don't know that I get the allure. My husband loves stuff like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 So...it is just mushed up peas? We do eat peas so....I guess we would eat that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 So...it is just mushed up peas? We do eat peas so....I guess we would eat that. Yep... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kerileanne99 Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Hubby was born in Scotland but grew up in North Yorkshire so he likes a couple of variations. He says sometimes in Norh Yorkshire you hear jokes about 'Yorkshire Caviar' and it is mushy peas with a bit of vinegar mixed in. Sometimes they will also be minty... Sorry dear, that is all you:) 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted February 26, 2015 Author Share Posted February 26, 2015 I like split pea soup. So it's just a thick pea soup? I guess that makes fish n' chips a bit healthier though I think we tend to serve it with cole slaw in the US. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCB Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 It's thicker than soup. I think they are 'processed' peas, and they are mushy. The peas themselves are bigger than the usual peas. Lots of people like fish and chips and mushy peas. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 How are they served with the fish and chips? In a bowl? Or are they thick enough to put beside the other stuff? Are they eaten with a fork, or are the fish and chips dipped in the mushy peas? Trying to get a mental picture here. Are they salty? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCB Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Thick enough to be beside the other stuff - kind of like baked beans consistency, maybe thicker. Not really salty. Often served in a separate little styrofoam container when you buy take-away fish and chips. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomtoCandJ Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Like baby food peas??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I feel so deprived, as I've never had mushy peas or farty peas. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammi K Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Really? I'm trying not to "yuck someone else's yum" here, but... That just doesn't sound very good to me. :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestHoustonMom Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Like baby food peas??? Sort of, but with intact peas in the mix. My XH loved them. It made me sick to even see them on his plate. I can't remember the brand we'd buy, but they were nearly day-glow green compared to baby food peas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Sounds like a gastronomic crime to me, but if I'm ever in the UK I will try some for the sake of education. I know we can buy cans of them from the international section of the supermarket. I've often wondered how it could be that enough people buy them to be worth stocking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Sounds like a gastronomic crime to me, but if I'm ever in the UK I will try some for the sake of education. I know we can buy cans of them from the international section of the supermarket. I've often wondered how it could be that enough people buy them to be worth stocking. 'cause there are so many people from UK that have migrated here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 They have already been well described. They tend to be more popular in some parts of the country than others. I think of them as a relic of medieval eating, when peas were not eaten fresh and no one knew how good a fresh pea could be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 'cause there are so many people from UK that have migrated here. Yes, but of all the traditions to carry on, why that one? Have some Christmas pud. At least that's not green and mushy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Yes, but of all the traditions to carry on, why that one? Have some Christmas pud. At least that's not green and mushy! It's odd the things that expats yearn for. When I came back after my first year in China (zero Western food for a year) I wanted a bacon sandwich. I'd been surrounded by pork for the whole year, but a Western cure of bacon was what I was missing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie in Ma Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 lol, I don't know but Giles references them in the Thanksgiving episode of Buffy. ;) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I visited Ireland a few years ago and the server told us our meal came with a side of mushy peas. We had no idea what it was, but when it was brought to the table we realized the name was quite accurate. I still remember how bright they were but I can't remember if I liked them or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawthorne44 Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 At least the version in Manchester, England was very much like mashed potatoes. I was there for work, and eating dinner with local co-workers. The waiter asked if I wanted mushy peas with my food. I said, "No" in the offended voice you'd get if the waiter offered to cut your hot dog for you. Co-Workers explained that it wasn't peas mushed. It started with a different pea that had a high water content and grew only in North Britain. Because of the high water content it is only eaten mushed. There are three ways to make mushy peas. The real way which involves hours and hours and hours of slow-cooking. You can buy "instant" mushy peas which are flakes and take around 3 hours to cook. Or you buy canned. In their opinion, the canned were pretty bad. The "instant" were pretty good, and the real way was even better. Considering this was in a restaurant with a real chef who had a TV show, I would guess they were made the real way. The texture was exactly like mashed potatoes. The color was a bright green that food should not be. The taste was similar to mashed potatoes, but with a pea flavor too. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumto2 Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 As someone who really likes mushy peas you guys need to know they are not green peas mushed up but a special pea mushed up that looks and tastes more like lima beans imo. Good ones are sort of like mashed potatoes. Definitely rate as a comfort food for people who like them! Much better lumpy which they normally are in pubs stc. High end ones are smooth. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwg Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I always learn something new here! Never even heard of them and now I have a strange craving for mushy peas. :lol: 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah CB Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Sort of, but with intact peas in the mix. My XH loved them. It made me sick to even see them on his plate. I can't remember the brand we'd buy, but they were nearly day-glow green compared to baby food peas. That's what I remember about them - the day-glow-ness. I thought they looked rather nuclear. We lived in London for two years and I avoided them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HRAAB Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I would eat mushy peas any day over kidneys. I do love fish and chips. I wonder how real English fish and chips might differ from what I eat here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lailasmum Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I love mushy peas. We eat them loads. They're a type of pea that is really floury, the texture is different than other peas. I think they are much nicer than normal peas. I love them with lots of salt. Don't be put off by the look, they're really nice. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmrich Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 We were told they were also preferred because they did not roll off your plate like regular peas. So barkeeps and waitstaff did not have to worry about peas rolling off the plates as they served them. They were not bad tasting, just bad looking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawthorne44 Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Does anyone know what makes them so darn bright? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stellalarella Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I love this Carla Hall cookbook--and she is wild about peas. Here is her recipe. https://books.google.com/books?id=u6EqAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA21&lpg=PA21&dq=carla+hall+mushy+mint+peas&source=bl&ots=aOKbVrVmuI&sig=Mjkv11aDCyY_aOGbb1F5hbwBkJM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=5YXvVJa4FY6vogSEyYLIDw&ved=0CCUQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=carla%20hall%20mushy%20mint%20peas&f=false 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deb in NZ Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 I've always thought they looked like refried beans, just bright green. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
readinmom Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 I love this Carla Hall cookbook--and she is wild about peas. Here is her recipe. https://books.google.com/books?id=u6EqAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA21&lpg=PA21&dq=carla+hall+mushy+mint+peas&source=bl&ots=aOKbVrVmuI&sig=Mjkv11aDCyY_aOGbb1F5hbwBkJM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=5YXvVJa4FY6vogSEyYLIDw&ved=0CCUQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=carla%20hall%20mushy%20mint%20peas&f=false Now that is helpful. I don't think I could do the mint, though. If I ever have to fix something just for me, I might try this. The rest of family hates peas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lailasmum Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 Does anyone know what makes them so darn bright? The ones we eat aren't luminous green, more a normal pea green. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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