What are mushy peas?
Mushy peas are a traditional English side dish made from dried marrowfat peas that are soaked overnight and then cooked until soft and mushy. They are especially popular with fish and chips.
Marrowfat peas are mature peas that have been left to dry in the field. They are soaked with bicarbonate of soda, which helps soften them.
Mushy peas are typically bright green, sometimes colored with food coloring. They are seasoned with salt and sometimes mint.
Northern traditions
Mushy peas are particularly popular in northern England and the Midlands. In Nottingham, they are often served with mint sauce as a snack.
Pie and peas, a meat pie served with mushy peas and gravy, is a classic dish in Yorkshire and Lancashire.
Fish and chip shops across England offer mushy peas as a side dish. They are often called the Yorkshire caviar as a joke.
Mushy peas are high in fiber and protein. Canned mushy peas are widely available in supermarkets.
They are usually served hot in a small pot or alongside chips in a paper wrapper.