Sautéed Snap Peas
on Apr 13, 2023, Updated Jul 08, 2024
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If you’re looking for a quick side dish that’s full of flavor, try this sautéed sugar snap peas recipe that cooks in 5 minutes (or less). With only 6 ingredients including fresh lemon and everything seasoning, they are fragrant with citrus and garlic.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
It’s quick side dish. Snap peas sauté in 5 minutes or less. That’s it. When you’re focused on the entree and other parts of a meal, you need sides that don’t require a ton of work.
There are only 6 ingredients, and that includes olive oil, salt and pepper. A recipe with a short ingredient list is always a huge plus. By using both the juice and zest of a lemon, you can get the most out its bright citrus taste.
Everything bagel seasoning is an instant boost. With a mix of sesame seeds, poppy seeds, minced garlic, minced onions and salt, everything bagel seasoning should be in everyone’s spice drawer. One sprinkle, and you can add that blend of wonderful flavors, and they are really good on vegetables.
The Ingredients
This is what you need:
- Snap Peas: As their name says, when you break a fresh snap pea in half or bite into one raw, it should have a crisp snap. They are sweet with a crunchy texture. Don’t overcook them, so you keep that texture and bite.
- Lemon: As mentioned, the recipe uses the entire lemon. both zest and juice, because the acid in the citrus balances out everything while adding some lift.
- Everything seasoning is a pantry must for me, and it should be for you too. This mix has a magical nutty, garlicky and oniony combination that transforms pretty much anything savory that you cook. I also add kosher salt and black pepper.
- Olive oil: With any recipe that has so few ingredients, use high-quality extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor.
Variations
Instead of everything seasoning, you can try one of these other options. But still keep the lemon, salt and pepper as your starting point.
- Red pepper flakes: They will add heat if you want the peas to turn out a little spicy.
- Butter: When the snap peas have finished cooking throw in a pat or 2 of butter. It will melt right away and add richness.
- Garlic: Add one minced garlic clove in the final 30 seconds of sautéing.
- Parmesan cheese: Garnish the snap peas with finely grated Parmesan.
How To Make Sautéed Snap Peas
1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over high heat.
2. Add the snap peas and lemon juice. I start on high heat because the lemon juice will bring down the temperature of the pan a bit as you sauté the snap peas. Cook them for 3-5 minutes until they are tender but still crisp. Some will be lightly browned.
3. Stir in the lemon zest, salt and pepper.
4. Stir in the everything seasoning before serving.
Serving
Sautéed, they are the perfect quick and easy stovetop side dish that you can wait until the last minute to cook. I like to pair them with main dishes that roast in the oven such as this balsamic roasted vegetable pasta, or this sheet pan mushroom asparagus gnocchi.
You can also eat them as an appetizer and dip them into red pepper hummus or homemade labneh.
More Snap Pea Recipes
Snap Pea Couscous
Sugar Snap Pea Lentil Salad
Three Pea Salad
Did you try this snap pea recipe? Please leave a rating and comment below. Thanks!
Sautéed Snap Peas
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound sugar snap peas
- Juice and zest of 1 lemon
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon everything seasoning
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Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over high heat.
- Add the snap peas and lemon juice. Sauté for 3-5 minutes until bright green and tender but crisp. Some will be lightly browned.
- Stir in lemon zest, salt and pepper.
- Finish with everything seasoning.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe originally published July 9, 2018. Updated April 13, 2023
