10 Minute Sugar Snap Peas Recipe

This sugar snap peas recipe is one of my go-to side dish recipes when I don’t have a lot of time. It comes together in 10 minutes and can be paired with so many of your favorite entrees.

this RECIPE

Do you struggle with making a complete dinner?  For many, it's relatively easy to think of the main entree like any of these chicken marinades or these garlic roasted pork chops and maybe even to keep it clean and healthy. But, for some reason, people run out of ideas when it comes to side dishes and so they stick with the classic options that are not always healthy.

You know...fries, mashed potatoes, white rice, pasta, all those usual suspects.

Sound familiar?

While these options may be tasty, they are not always very healthy or nutritious. And, while I still like to enjoy them every now and again, on a regular basis, I prefer healthier and more nutritious side dishes, like this sautéed sugar snap peas recipe and my Baked Asparagus Fries.

Honestly, I'm shocked it took me so long to cook sugar snap peas. I love them raw, but never cooked them in any shape or form, until now.

In This Post You'll Find:

• Reasons You'll Love It
• Watch Me Make Lemon Sugar Snap Peas
• Ingredient Notes
• Trimming Your Sugar Snap Peas
• How To Make Sugar Snap Peas
• Sugar Snap Peas Go Well With:
• Other Healthy Side Dishes
• Sugar Snap Peas with Lemon
• Reviews

Watch Me Make Lemon Sugar Snap Peas

Ingredient Notes

Sugar Snap Peas: Snap peas, or sugar snap peas, are a cross between garden peas and snow peas. The whole pod is edible and they have a crunchy flavor and sweet taste. Look for bright green snap peas in the store for the freshest option.

What to do with snap peas:

• Eat them raw as a snack <---- LOVE!
• Use them to make simple side dishes, like this one.
• Slice them diagonally and toss in a salad for extra crunch.
• Make a simple, light appetizer.

Lemon: The lemon adds a great flavor to this dish, but you could substitute with orange you prefer that flavor.

Olive Oil: The only other ingredient besides some basic seasoning is olive oil. which is needed for cooking the peas and keeping them from burning. I use Extra Virgin Olive oil.

Optional Toppings: While this recipe is nice and simple, there are other toppings that could add a little texture and heat, like sesame seeds (as a garnish) or chili oil.

Trimming Your Sugar Snap Peas

I like to buy snap peas that are already de-stringed because it makes them just that much easier to prepare.  And… because I can be a little lazy with things like that.  At least I’m honest, right?

However, if you want to learn how to trim sugar snap peas, I can teach you.

How to trim sugar snap peas:

1. Start with a snap pea in one hand and a paring knife in the other hand.
2. Make sure the inside curve of the pod faces you.
3. Sever the top of the snap pea and you’ll see a tough string that runs along the pod.
4. Pull that string out.

That’s it. There’s no need to remove the other string but you can do it if you want.

How To Make Sugar Snap Peas

Sugar snap peas are best when they are briefly cooked. Cooking them for too long means ending up with soggy, chewy snap peas. You don’t want that so make sure you don’t overcook them.

Perfectly cooked snap peas are green and maintain a slight crunch.  Basically: You want them to -- snap -- when you bite into them.

Here are some cooking options for you:

• Sauté them for 2 or 3 minutes with olive oil. Season them with salt and pepper and enjoy them. Or, if you want more flavors, use my sugar snap peas recipe.
• Grill them for 2 or 3 minutes on each side. Season them with salt and pepper and serve them as a side dish.
• Roast them in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes. You can season them with lemon zest or parmesan for extra taste.

Step 1: Heat oil over medium-high heat.

Step 2: Add the snap peas and toss to coat. Cook for 2 minutes.

Step 3: Add the lemon zest, salt and pepper and cook 2-5 minutes.

Step 4: Serve.

Other Healthy Side Dishes

This sugar snap peas recipe is proof that side dishes can be healthy and delicious at the same time. Also quick and easy to make. Do I have other similar side dish recommendations? Of course I do. Here they are: