British · Authentic-ish British
Mushy Peas
154 kcal a serving, against 208 for the traditional version. That is 54 kcal off, or 26%, with 10.4g of protein. Serves 4. 3 hours (mostly soaking and simmering).
What the traditional version is
The real deal starts with dried marrowfat peas, soaked overnight with a pinch of bicarbonate of soda to soften them. They simmer away for just over an hour, bubbling and breaking down until you've got a thick, spoonable green mash. At the finish, a slab of butter is stirred in, turning the lot glossy and rich, with a taste that's mostly pea, slightly salty, and a little luxurious round the edges.
What changed, and what each change costs
Butter out, entirely
There's nowhere to hide here. The butter is just stirred in right at the end to make the peas taste less. pea-ish. Without it, you're left with the genuine article, bold as you like. It saves you about 7g fat per serving and only costs a little gloss.
What it costs you. You'll miss the buttery finish if you're used to it, and the peas do look duller in the bowl. The flavour is sharper and more direct, like a football ground on a cold day. You might even prefer it if your nostalgia is more chip shop than supper club.
The numbers
| Per serving | Traditional | Lightened |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 208 | 154 |
| Protein | 10.5g | 10.4g |
| Fat | 6.9g | 0.8g |
| Saturated fat | 3.9g | 0.1g |
| Carbohydrate | 27.2g | 27.2g |
| Protein per 100 kcal | 5.1g | 6.8g |
Every figure is computed from the recipe's own weighed ingredient list against public food composition databases. The appendix in Authentic-ish British prints the exact database row used for each ingredient, so any number here can be checked.
The method is in the book
This is the second time I've felt a bit daft for including a dish: once you take the butter out, you're just eating peas. But there's a simple pleasure in that. Mushy peas are what they are - no one reaches for them hoping for luxury. The missing gloss is obvious if you're eating them by the spoonful, but as a side to something battered or baked, you won't care. They're unpretentious, honest, and exactly as green as you remember. If you're really craving the full effect, make it the proper way once in a while. Otherwise, this stripped-down bowl is the taste of Friday night, minus the guilt and the grease. The only crime here is pretending they're gourmet.
The quantities and the method for this dish are in Authentic-ish British, along with 57 more. It is not out yet. The swap kit is free in the meantime.