What to do when a pea shoots

“Pea Shoots”.

When I first heard this phrase, it sounded funny to me. “Uh! Oh! This pea shoots! Bad Boy!” is what I thought. 🙂

But, When I ventured on some Indoor winter gardening with some sprouted green peas, I came to know the real meaning of “Pea Shoots”. Whether it was the cute and erect tendrils that grew from the seeds or the bunch of tiny plants that stood like warriors or the potent taste that it hid in itself to hit our palettes, I agree that the pea does shoot…with its taste, texture and nutrients.

You know? I am very greedy, When I understood the game plan of the pea’s shooting, I wanted to grab them all, the taste,texture and nutrients. Not just from the shoots but from the seeds too. That’s why I planned to play a conspiracy against the pea that shoots.

Yup! If you know a pea can shoot, Trap it in a Jar!!! 🙂

Method for trapping it:

Soak 2 -3 tablespoons of dried green peas in a glass jar. Change the soaking water once or twice and let soak for at least 12 hours. Drain the water completely and move the jar to a dark place. Fill the jar once or twice with water, give it a swirl and drain the water completely. This will keep the peas moist. After a day or two, the peas will sprout.

Peas soaked in water

Wash them once in a while and tilt the jar over a plate or bowl to drain the excess water. Maintain the jar in a dark place. After 3-4 days, the sprouts will grow an inch longer.

Pea sprouts after 3 days

Move the jar near a bright window. To keep the pea sprouts from drying out, follow the washing process twice a day. After 3 days, tiny leaves will appear in the sprouts.

Peas moved near a bright window

Keep the jar near the bright window until the leaves develop the chlorophyll and turn green.

Ooh! Its really hot in here!

A closer look!

Wow! there is beautiful life out there!

Look! the peas are shooting!

Hey! Let me out! Let me out!

We can keep these sprouts up to a week or more in refrigerator, if we wash them at least once daily. Though we can steam or boil them, either eating fresh or a simple stir fry will retain most of the nutrients. If you are boiling them in water, use the water in soups or curries. I made a simple peas stir fry with onion, tomatoes and some spices. It made a simple side dish for Roti, but rich in nutrients and fiber for sure.

Pea shoots stir fry

This is my entry for Andrea’s “Grow your own” event hosted by the great gardeners Jai and Bee of Jugalbandhi.