Sugar Snap Peas Recipe (2024)

If you’ve ever wondered what to do with sugar snap peas, this recipe is one of my favorites. It’s quick and flavorful, and this Asian-style side dish goes with many other main dishes (Asian or otherwise).

Cooking snap peas is easy, and the crisp-tender bite of the bean has a texture and crunch that will keep you coming back. Combined with sh*take mushrooms, a blend of aromatics and spicy Thai chilies for a kick — you’ve got the makings of a very tasty Asian side dish.

Why this recipe works

• The flavors and colors and textures are dynamic, bright and flavorful.
• It’s a quick snap peas recipe, ready to eat in 15 minutes.
• Aromatics like ginger, garlic and red chilies give them a tasty tingle and a sprinkle of sesame seed adds a tasty crunch.
• Stir-fried sugar snap peas go with many main courses, from Asian-inspired to plain grilled chicken breasts.
• It’s easily customizable to your tastes.

Ingredients:

• Fresh Sugar Snap Peas – (a.k.a. snap peas) are a hybrid of snow peas and regular English peas. They are slightly rounded pea pods filled with peas, and both the peas and the pods are edible (after removing the fibrous string).
• sh*take Mushrooms – originally cultivated in East Asia, shiitake mushrooms have a flatter cap and tougher stem than button mushrooms. Remove the tough stem and slice the mushroom caps into thin strips to cook with shiitakes.
• Vegetable Oil – has a neutral flavor, which I prefer for stir-frying the mushrooms. You can also use other neutral oils like Canola or Grapeseed. Avoid olive oil as it has a lower smoke point.
• Toasted Sesame Oil – This specialty oil has a warm toasted, nutty aroma and flavor and is used to season stir-fried snap peas.
• Minced Garlic – The sharp bite of garlic mellows as it’s warmed with the snap peas and mushrooms.
• Minced Ginger – adds an Asian flair to the snap peas recipe and gives it a tangy, spicy note.
• Soy Sauce – I recommend low-sodium soy sauce for more control over sodium, but you can also use regular soy sauce or Tamari.
• Scallions – Scallions (a.k.a green onions) are a less intense allium that brings flavor and aromas to sugar snap peas, especially in stir-fry recipes like this one.
• Thai Chilies – A diminutive but very spicy red chili pepper used extensively in Asian cooking; you can find them in grocery stores sometimes or in Asian food markets. (They’re often cheaper in the Asian markets).
• Fresh Mint – to add a pop of brightness and contrast to the snap peas recipe.
• Sesame Seeds – for a bit of crunch and texture.
• Salt & Pepper – taste for seasoning and adjust with salt and pepper.

Cooking sugar snap peas is pretty straightforward, but they require a little advance prep, like snow peas and green beans.

Sugar snap peas have a fibrous string that runs down the pod’s center, which must be removed before cooking. (You don’t want to leave it attached — because it doesn’t break down and is like chewing on a piece of dental floss).

How to prepare sugar snap peas:

1. Trim a small bit from one end of the snap pea using a pairing knife, but don’t cut all the way through — the string will hold on.
2. Pull the string firmly, following the length of the snap pea. Discard the string.
3. If the string snaps midway through trimming, trim a small bit from the other side of the legume and repeat the steps, pulling the string away from the snap pea pod.
4. Do this for all of the snap peas — it should take about 5 minutes for an 8-ounce package. Easy-peasy.

Instructions:

1. Heat a heavy bottomed skillet (or wok) over medium-high to high heat. When the pan is hot, add the vegetable oil.
2. Add sliced sh*take mushrooms and stir fry until softened and lightly browned, 3-4 minutes.
3. Add sesame oil and when it heats and becomes fragrant add the sugar snap peas to cook for 2-3 minutes.
4. Stir in the aromatics (garlic and ginger) and stir fry until for one minute, then add the soy sauce scallions and minced Thai chilies.
5. Stir fry for 2-3 minutes until the sugar snap peas are crisp-tender.
6. Season with kosher salt and pepper to taste and sprinkle with fresh mint and sesame seeds.

Variations

• Swap other types of mushrooms for the sh*take in the snap peas recipe. Button, cremini or a blend of wild mushrooms is fine.
• If you can’t find Thai chilies, substitute red chili peppers, jalapenos or serranos for heat. Even a pinch of red pepper flakes or squeeze of sriracha will do.
• Add a squeeze of lime juice to bring more tanginess to the snap peas recipe.
• For a bit of umami flavor, add a teaspoon or two of fermented black beans.
• If you enjoy a sweet touch, add a teaspoon or two of honey when cooking snap peas.
• Add other veggies to the stir fry, like zucchini or squash, sliced red onions, broccoli florets or sweet bell peppers.

FAQ’s

Storage

The nice thing about this snap peas recipe is that it’s a manageable amount, feeding about 4 people. If you do have leftovers, wrap them in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for 3-5 days.

To reheat, microwave leftovers for 45 seconds to a minute, stir and repeat as necessary until heated.

What to serve with sugar snap peas:

• Steamed Rice
• Easy Chicken Fried Rice
• Beef Broccoli Stir Fry For Two
• Sweet Spicy Chinese Beef Noodles
• Juicy Asian-Style Chicken Thighs

More Asian side dishes:

• Asian Cucumber Salad
• Quick Asian Cabbage Salad
• Asian Rice Salad
• Cold Soba Salad

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Sugar Snap Peas Recipe

This simple Asian-inspired sugar snap peas recipe is ready to eat in about 15 minutes and makes a great snap pea side dish to go with lots of dishes.

Servings 4

NUTRITION:

Calories: 59.11kcal | Carbohydrates: 9.28g | Protein: 3.41g | Fat: 1.49g | Saturated Fat: 0.19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.56g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.46g | Sodium: 259.83mg | Potassium: 304.06mg | Fiber: 2.91g | Sugar: 4.02g | Vitamin A: 814.23IU | Vitamin C: 51.92mg | Calcium: 37.21mg | Iron: 1.76mg

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