This Queen of Quick Snap Peas recipe is recommended for a great spring or summertime snack or side dish. Snap peas and string beans are good examples of good springtime foods to incorporate into your diet as they have a diuretic effect, meaning they help stimulate the kidneys to release excess water and salt in the body. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) they are considered neutral in thermal nature, meaning they don’t disrupt the balance of hot or cold in the body. You can learn more about yin and yang cooking and TCM eating guidelines here.

This recipe takes less than ten minutes to make and can be enjoyed as a side dish or a healthy snack. You could also add some extra seasonings to spice it up and make it your own!

East Meets West Nutrition Info for Snap Peas

Snow and sugar snap peas are both members of the legume family. Technically, they’re two different varieties of the same species. Sugar snap peas are a cross between snow peas and garden peas.

Sugar snap peas and snow peas share identical nutritional profiles and are less starchy than a typical shelled pea. They’re low in calories and provide fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K and folate.

Chinese Nutrition

Neutral temperature (keep a balance of hot/cold in the body)
Sweet flavor
Nourish the Spleen and Stomach
Promote healthy digestion
Natural mild diuretic

Western Nutrition

Good source of potassium, vitamin K, beta carotene, Vitamin A
Support bone health
Strengthen the immune system
40 Calories, 2g Protein, 2g Fiber, 3g Sugar less than 1g Fat,

Queen of Quick – Sesame Snap (or Snow) Peas

Karen Propis

A quick, easy recipe to dress up snap peas packed with nutrition and great for spring and summer.

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Prep Time 1

Cook Time 6

Course Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack

Servings 4

Ingredients

3 cups sugar snap peas or snow peas
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tsp sesame seeds, toasted

Instructions

Prepare a pot of boiling, salted water to quickly blanch the peas. Put peas in for 1-2 minutes only and remove while they are still bright green and crisp.
Drain in a colander and then add peas to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking.
Drain from the ice water and put in a mixing bowl.
Toss peas with the sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds. You want just enough oil to lightly coat the peas.