Pea shoots
Pea shoots are healthy and a fun, low-cost growing project. Especially if you want to be able to eat green primroses all winter, growing pea shoots is a great way to do it. In Asia, pea shoots have been a common vegetable for a long time. In Europe, pea shoots have become popular, especially in recent decades. In Sweden, they are now available in shops and are part of what are sometimes called micro greens. That is, plants that are harvested while the leaves are very small.
Tips for those who want to sow pea shoots
It is possible to plant pea shoots regardless of what kind of peas you have available. Dried yellow peas from the supermarket are an excellent option. If you have fresh peas, you can use them too. When we grow pea shoots, it is not for them to form new pods of peas. The shoots are instead eaten as they are when they are a few days or a week old.
It is difficult to fail at planting pea shoots as long as they get enough light and water.
- Soak the peas for 24 hours and they will germinate faster.
- Place the peas on regular potting soil and top with a thin layer of soil.
- Water regularly, the soil must not dry out.
It is often ideal to place pots with pea shoots in the kitchen window. You can also put them on the balcony or in the garden. Have several containers and sow in batches. If you sow all the peas at once, you may end up with a bigger crop than you can use.
Growing pea shoots without soil
It is possible to grow pea shoots without soil.
- Place cotton in the bottom of a container.
- Place the peas on top of the cotton.
- Cover with cling film to keep the moisture in.
- Leave the container in a warm and bright place.
- Spray water every day (should always be moist)
- Remove the plastic film when the shoots start to grow.
You can also use special growing equipment for hydroponic cultivation.
Recipes with pea shoots
Crispy pea shoots are little delicacies in themselves! The tender stems can be eaten together with the leaves. If you keep them for a long time, the stalk becomes woody. If you want to use pea shoots in recipes, the possibilities are endless. They go well raw in most salads and pasta dishes. You can also wok them with other vegetables. The cooking time is short!
A simple recipe with pea shoots is to make pesto with parmesan, olive oil, pea shoots and pine nuts. So you replace the basil in a regular pesto with freshly harvested pea shoots. The flavour and nutritional content change as the shoots grow. They are at their best when they are just over five cm high. Then they are both flavourful and nutritious.
Pea shoots have a high nutritional content
According to the Swedish National Food Agency, pea shoots are a good source of vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, potassium and magnesium. They are also high in protein – for a vegetable – and fibre. The exact nutritional content depends on the type of peas you use. Did you know that sprouts and shoots are healthier than the seeds, beans or peas you take the shoots from?
Author: Johanna Damm
Fact-checked by Erik Hoekstra
Last updated 2023-12-12