Little Peas with Lettuce

These tiny fresh green peas are my favorite vegetable in all the world. In France they serve a dish of these young peas as a separate course, they are wonderful, but we prefer to serve them right with our meal. Even the frozen ones are good prepared this way, but the garden-fresh kind are, of course, much, much better. Vincent Price
Course Side Dishes
Servings 8

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp Butter
  • 2 lbs young green peas shelled
  • 1 head lettuce shredded
  • 10 pearl white onions
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 4 sprigs Fresh parsley
  • 1 tsp Sugar
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/8 tsp pepper
  • 1 1/2 tbsp Butter

Instructions

The Recipe

  • Melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the peas, lettuce, onions, thyme, parsley, sugar, salt and pepper. Stir to mix well. Cover pan tightly and allow to simmer on low heat. Moisture from the lettuce should be sufficient, but you must stir constantly, and can add a spoonful of water if necessary. Cook for about 45 minutes or until peas are tender. Add the additional 1 1/2 tablespoons of butter, mix well, and serve.

Notes from Sue & Phil

  • Peas are not always in season so we used frozen peas. We thawed the peas in a colander, rinsing with cold water. Wow! This was very lovely and simple.

Notes

Other Recipes Inspired by Vincent Price
Vincent Price
Beyond The Legend
Collector of Recipes – Food Enthusiast
I never knew or would have guessed there was more to Vincent Price then his countless horror flicks and renowned voice. Until…a dear friend loaned me his first edition copy of the “Treasury of Great Recipes” written by Vincent & Mary Price and published in 1965. The book is a collection of famous recipes from world -renowned restaurants adapted for the American kitchen. As the Price’s traveled through out the U.S. and Europe, they would ask chef’s to share their recipes. They’d take these recipes home; try their hand at preparing them and then entertain guests with their culinary creations.
I loved how Vincent and Mary describe themselves as being from Hollywood but not allowing Hollywood to define them. Their approach to entertaining was very open and unpretentious. They enjoyed an eclectic group of friends and diversified menus. The entire home was there entertaining stage; dinner in the library, brunch by the pool, dessert in the kitchen. The recipes they chose to publish were diversified as well.
• Harry’s Bar in Venice – Scampi Aurora (Shrimp with Hollandaise Sauce au Gratin)
• Pump Room in Chicago - Flaming Shashlik (Lamb on a Skewer)
• Tour d’Argent in Paris – Filets De Sole Cardinal (Fillets of Sole with Crayfish)
• Santa Fe Super Chief Dining Car – Poached Eggs Harlequin
The cookbooks accolades are amazing. Saveur Magazine referenced the book as “One of the most important culinary events of the 20th century.” Booklist recently named it the eighth most popular out-of-print book of any kind. Vincent and Mary’s daughter, Victoria, has published a 50th year anniversary edition of the cookbook. It includes all the original recipes and a new forward note from Wolfgang Puck.
With the help of my friend and mentor, Chef Phil Behling, we have picked a few of these recipes to recreate. Our goal was to follow the recipe as close as possible. However, it is fifty years later and ingredients, equipment and techniques have changed over time. We hope you enjoy a nostalgic walk back in time as you read and/or create these timeless recipes.