Last week on the Bravo reality show, Top Chef, the chef-testants were challenged to create the ‘last meal’ as requested by famous culinary stars such as Lidia Bastianich, Wylie Dufresne and Jacques Pepin. Jacques requested a simple dish of Squab and peas.
I shouted to my TV, “Peas! I know Jacques’ peas! I’ve been making them all week! Yay peas!”(My husband looked at me like I had lost it.)
Chef-testant Carla did a superb job of creating the dish. And for the peas she chose to hand pluck fresh peas, add some butter, salt and pepper. Just how Jacques likes it.
Where did my obsession with Jacques’ peas begin? Well, a few weeks ago I was watching Jacques’ PBS cooking show where he prepared fresh peas. I was intrigued by the glossy spring green color and got a craving. Peas are a great source of veggie protein, so I was inspired to experiment. Peas are very simple and cheap. I steamed a bag of frozen peas, added my own touches and it was pea bliss. I was hooked. Keep reading for pea nutrition facts, my super simple recipe for Jacques Pepin style, vegan Buttered Sweet Petite Peas, and to read Jacques’ quote about his chosen ‘last meal’….
Jacques Pepin On his Last Meal of Squab and Peas:
Bravotv.com asked: The whole theme of this episode revolved around “the last meal.” You chose squab and peas. What does that dish mean to you?
Jacques: I had a hard time there because I would, of course, want my last meal to be very, very, very long with all the food that I like. When I was a kid the squab was one of the special treats that we would get occasionally throughout the year. The fresh peas, for me, is really a celebration of spring and is very appealing to me. Carla did that very, very well. I remember the peas more than the squab actually. They were really fantastic.
Buttered Sweet Petite Peas
vegan
Ingredients:
1 bag of organic frozen petite peas. My favorite brand is Columbia River Organics (I found them at Whole Foods).
2 Tbsp. Vegan “butter” spread (spectrum spread, canola oil spread, etc.)
salt and pepper
MAKE: Poke a hole in bag. Microwave for 4-5 minutes. Allow steam to puff up bag.
Toss peas with butter and salt and pepper to taste.
Serve warm.
Nutrition Facts:
(peas only)
1 serving, 1/2 cup
(3 servings per bag)
calories: 40
fat: 0g
protein: 2g
fiber: 2g
carbs: 8 g
vitamin A: 20%
Peas are a very good source of protein, B vitamins, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, iron, potassium and vitamins K, C and A.
I have always loved fresh peas. They are delicious in pasta or alone. Highly underestimated side dish.
I LOVE PEAS!In salads.In casseroles.In soups.In a bowl…. gee, if I worked at it I could maybe do a Dr. Suess thing with Peas … but I don’t wanna work. I wanna go home and see my girlys, who DO NOT LIKE peas (YET!).
Hey Mark, for some people, enjoying the life we live is more important than having a long one. I say pass the peas AND the fat. I’m sure Jacques would agree.
To complete your nutritional analysis. If you use, say, Smart Balance Spread with Omega, those two tablespoons of pure fat are 18 grams of fat.Earth Balance “buttery spread” is even worse with 22 grams of fat for 2 tablespoons.The guys who’ve reversed (and in theory, prevented) heart disease, through a low fat vegan diet, Drs. Ornish and Esselstyn) recommend a TOTAL of 14 to 20 grams of fat a day.The peas are great and healthy. The two tablespoons of added fat (which isn’t even a food) doesn’t help at all. Especially if you are adding a full day’s worth of fat to them.Sorry, but that’s the truth.FYI, Mark
Yeah, but umm… if it was your LAST meal, wouldn’t you splurge on a little Earth Balance… just a little? Aw, c’mon! 😛
I LOVE PEAS!
In salads.
In casseroles.
In soups.
In a bowl…. gee, if I worked at it I could maybe do a Dr. Suess thing with Peas … but I don’t wanna work.
I wanna go home and see my girlys, who DO NOT LIKE peas (YET!).
Hey Mark, for some people, enjoying the life we live is more important than having a long one. I say pass the peas AND the fat. I’m sure Jacques would agree.
Cardiovascular diseases claimed 864,480 lives in 2005 (final mortality) (35.3 percent of all deaths or 1 of every 2.8 deaths).
Biggest killer of men and women in this country. Just going vegan won’t keep it from being a problem.
FROM:
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4478
As to your red herring question, I don’t intend to be arrested and sentenced to death to “have a last meal.”
The added fat in non-plant-based, vegetarian, and vegan diets is killing us.
It’s not funny.
Your “cauliflower garlic bread recipe” that you posted recently is a real killa:
1/4 C. margarine: 36 grams of fat
1/4 C. Vegennaise: 36 grams of fat
1/4 block of Follow Your Heart: 10 grams of fat
Let’s see, that’s 82 grams of fat. Four times recommended DAILY by Ornish, Esselstyn, et. al., and 1.5 times TOTAL FAT recommended by the Feds per day.
It certainly might be your last meal.
The math doesn’t lie. Oil is NOT a food, and adding it doesn’t help you nutritionally at all and just increases your risk of heart disease.
Go ahead, splurge, but at least know the risks.
FYI, Mark
Yeah, but umm… if it was your LAST meal, wouldn’t you splurge on a little Earth Balance… just a little? Aw, c’mon! 😛
To complete your nutritional analysis. If you use, say, Smart Balance Spread with Omega, those two tablespoons of pure fat are 18 grams of fat.
Earth Balance “buttery spread” is even worse with 22 grams of fat for 2 tablespoons.
The guys who’ve reversed (and in theory, prevented) heart disease, through a low fat vegan diet, Drs. Ornish and Esselstyn) recommend a TOTAL of 14 to 20 grams of fat a day.
The peas are great and healthy. The two tablespoons of added fat (which isn’t even a food) doesn’t help at all. Especially if you are adding a full day’s worth of fat to them.
Sorry, but that’s the truth.
FYI, Mark
I have always loved fresh peas. They are delicious in pasta or alone. Highly underestimated side dish.