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    Home » From The Garden

    Snow Pea Leaves Ginger and Garlic

    Published: Apr 7, 2022 by Poppy Hudson

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Photo illustration on how to clean tendrils from snow pea leaves.
    White plate on brown tile with bright geen snow pea leaves in center.
    Photo of dark leafy green cooked with ginger and garlic with text overlay..

    Snow pea leaves stir-fried with ginger and garlic are a springtime treat for home gardeners. They cook in less than 2 minutes and have a crave-worthy, full sweet flavor similar to Chinese pea pods.

    Plate with bright greens cooked snow pea leaves with ginger and garlic.

    Asian markets, where they are called dou miao in Mandarin, make a point to stock the shoots year-round.

    It's no wonder because a quick stir-fry of snow pea shoots makes a delicious side dish for meals begging for dark leafy greens.

    They would be sensational with Huli Huli Seitan Skewers and Coconut Rice.

    Jump to:
    • ⭐ Why it works
    • 📋 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Steps
    • 💦 How to clean
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Expert tips
    • 💭 FAQ
    • 🥬 More recipes with greens
    • 📖 Recipe

    ⭐ Why it works

    • Bright green from a one-minute flash in boiling water.
    • Light on oil - no greasy stir-fry here.
    • Ginger and garlic add impact without overwhelming the fresh flavor of tender greens.

    📋 Ingredients

    Labeled photo of snow pea leaves, ginger, garlic, salt and oil.
    • Snow pea leaves - Fresh leaves from the shoots of young snow pea plants.
    • Garlic - A must-have to pair with ginger for this dish.
    • Ginger - Firm, crisp whole ginger root.
    • Sea salt - Brings out the sweet flavor of pea shoots.
    • Vegetable oil - Light, neutral-tasting oil that won't interfere with other flavors in the recipe.

    🔪 Steps

    The secret to this recipe's clean flavor and emerald green color is flash cooking in boiling water. Then the stir-fry step is more of a toss in hot oil than a cooking method.

    Wait until you see what a difference it makes!

    Prepare vegetables, blanch greens, fry garlic and ginger and combine all
    1. Wash and shake dry snow pea leaves, grate ginger, and slice the garlic.
    2. Drop leaves in boiling water for one minute. Drain and rinse quickly in cool water.
    3. Heat oil, add garlic and ginger, and cook until aroma is released.
    4. Stir blanched leaves into the hot ginger-garlic oil. Add salt and blend until well mixed.

    💦 How to clean

    If you clip your own pea shoots from plants in your garden, you'll want to trim them before cooking.

    The tendrils are less palatable than the leaves and only the stems near the very tips of plants are tender enough for the perfect dish of stir-fried snow pea leaves.

    Remove tendrils and tough stems from snow pea leaves.

    On the other hand, if you buy a bunch from an Asian market, you may find them more recipe ready.

    Use your own judgment on how much to trim your snow pea sprouts. You can easily tell how tender the different parts are by sampling them raw.

    👩🏻‍🍳 Expert tips

    Photo of dark leafy green cooked with ginger and garlic.
    • Use a neutral-flavored oil like grapeseed, avocado, organic canola, or sunflower.
    • Drop snow pea leaves in boiling water for only one minute and rinse immediately in cool water.
    • Take care not to burn ginger and garlic in the skillet.
    • Serve cooked snow pea leaves in a pre-heated dish.
    • Serve with optional toasted sesame seeds, gomasio, chili paste, and soy sauce on the side.

    💭 FAQ

    Can you eat snow pea shoots raw?

    Absolutely. They are healthy and delicious as salad greens. You can also use them in summer rolls or as a garnish for richer dishes.

    Are pea sprouts and pea shoots the same thing?

    Yes and no. The names are used interchangeably but can refer to different stages of growth that affect flavor and size.

    Grocery stores sometimes sell young sprouts that haven't yet formed secondary leaves. These pea sprouts are closer to microgreens than shoots that have fully formed pea leaves.

    Can you harvest leaves and pods from the same plant?

    Yes, you can. Harvest snow pea shoots while the plant is young and has only made a few flowers. Then, let the plant mature further to form pods.

    One expert tip if you want to harvest both is to plant separate patches for pea shoots and pea pods!

    Plate of dark green stir-fried leaves with sesame seeds on top.

    If you love this special dish as much as we do, you may want to grow your own greens at home. Here are a couple of resources:

    • Southern Exposure Seed Exchange carries seed that grows well in warm climates.
    • Gardening Know How has pointers on how to grow and harvest snow pea shoots.

    🥬 More recipes with greens

    • Massaged kale salad with red and green apple and sunflower seeds.
      Apple Kale Salad & Hemp Parmesan
    • Refreshing green Frozen Moringa Orange Julius.
      Frozen Moringa Drink- Orange Pineapple
    • Finely chopped herb salad made with gotu kola, chilies, lime and fresh coconut.
      Healthy Gotu Kola Sambol Salad
    • Bright green tender cooked mustard greens toppied with sesame seasoning.
      Simple Gomasio Mustard Greens

    Enjoyed this post? Leave a comment, rate ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ it, and follow @poppyswildkitchen on Instagram. Aloha!

    📖 Recipe

    Plate of dark green stir-fried leaves with chopsticks on the side.

    Snow Pea Leaves- Ginger and Garlic

    Snow pea leaves cooked with ginger and garlic are tender, full-flavored, and sweet. Fast vegan recipe cooked with minimal oil.
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
    4
    Calories: 75kcal
    Author: Poppy Hudson

    Ingredients

    • 18 ounces snow pea shoots with leaves
    • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
    • 3 cloves garlic
    • 1 teaspoon raw ginger

    Instructions

    Prep snow pea leaves

    • Wash snow pea shoots with leaves thoroughly and shake them dry. Trim and discard all the tendrils from the shoots as well as any tough stem material.
    • Bring a deep pot of water to a boil. Drop the snow pea shoots in and stir for one minute. Leaves should wilt and turn bright green.
    • Drain off boiling water and rinse immediately in cool water. Drain well.

    Make stir fry

    • Peel and slice the garlic thin. Grate fresh ginger root and measure out ¾ teaspoon.
    • Heat oil in a large shallow skillet over medium-high heat. Add ginger and garlic and stir briefly until fragrant. Don't allow them to brown more than a light golden color on the edges.
    • Add snow pea shoots with leaves all at once. Add salt. Toss everything in the hot oil until well-mixed and hot. Serve right away.

    Serve

    • Serve immediately in a heated bowl or platter. If desired, sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds or gomasio and provide chili paste and soy sauce at the table.

    Notes

    Ingredients
    Choose perky greens with nice green color and obvious freshness.
    Use a neutral-flavored oil like avocado, grapeseed, organic canola, sunflower, or untoasted sesame. 
    Preparation 
    Trim tough tendrils and stem material from snow pea leaves before serving.
    Drop snow pea leaves in boiling water for only one minute and rinse immediately in cool water.
    Take care not to burn ginger and garlic.
    Serving 
    Serve ginger and garlic snow pea leaves in a heated bowl or on a warm platter.
    Top with optional toasted sesame seeds or serve with gomasio, chili paste, and soy sauce at the table.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 75kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 11mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 542IU | Vitamin C: 31mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 1mg | Magnesium: 1mg | Phosphorus: 4mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @PoppysWildKitchen or tag #poppyswildkitchen!

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