Nutritional Benefits and Curry Recipe Of Green Peas

Garden peas, commonly known as green peas are said to be one of the oldest cultivated food crops. These edible green pods have loads of health benefiting phyto-nutrients, vitamins minerals, and anti-oxidants. Green peas are not only a vital ingredient for many Indian recipes, but they are now a widely cultivated legume in the temperate and semi-tropical regions.

Peas grow as annual herbaceous vine and flourish in sandy, well-drained soil in cool climatic conditions. Green peas are nowadays available in frozen packages in the stores, however the fresh seasonal vegetable is always recommended for maximum benefits.

Let us have a look at some of the nutritional benefits provided by green peas:

• Low Calorie – High Protein: Peas have lower calorie content, if compared with cowpeas and beans. Moreover, peas have ß-sitosterol that helps to lower cholesterol levels in human body. Green peas are also a good source of soluble and insoluble fibre.

• Abundance of Folic Acid: Fresh green peas are an excellent source of folic acid that is required for DNA synthesis within human cells. Scientific studies say that adequate folate is very important for expectant mothers as it helps to prevent neural tube defects in new-born babies.

• High Amount of Vitamin C: Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is present in green peas in a significant amount and it’s a powerful water soluble anti-oxidant needed for healthy teeth, gums, hair and skin. Moreover, vitamin C also boosts the immune system and protects the body against various infections.

• Good Vitamin K Content: Garden peas are excellent source of vitamin K that helps in bone mass building and restricts the damage caused by Alzheimers disease.

• Anti-Oxidant: Cancer patients are often recommended to add fresh green peas in their diet as it is a potential natural anti-oxidant. It has flavonoids like the lutein, carotenes, and zea-xanthin.

• Rich in Vitamins and Minerals: Rich in vitamin A, green peas are recommended in diet to maintain the health of vision, skin, hair and mucus membranes. They also contain essential B-complex vitamins like pantothenic acid, thiamine, niacin, and pyridoxine. The mineral content of garden peas includes zinc, calcium, iron, copper, and manganese.

Including an item of green peas in your diet for a couple of times in a week is just not a problem when they can be easily mixed in salads, rice preparation and diverse types of curries. Peas especially serve as a nutrition booster in vegetarian dishes.

To prepare a lip smacking peas curry, all you need is take 1 pound fresh green peas, 4 teaspoons coconut milk, 1 chopped onion, 4 chopped tomatoes, 2 tea spoons coriander seeds powder, 1 teaspoon chilli powder, 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds, 2 teaspoons ginger oil, 1 small cinnamon stick salt and turmeric powder to taste.

Follow the steps below to make the peas curry:

1. Take a small, clean bowl and mix coconut milk, coriander, chilli powder, salt and turmeric to make a paste.

2. Heat oil over medium heat in a medium sauté pan, then add onions, cinnamon stick, and cumin seeds; keep sauteing until the onions become soft.

3. Finally, stir the tomatoes, green peas, and the coconut milk paste to the pan mixture. Reduce the flame, and simmer until the green peas get tender.

The total time taken to make this preparation would be hardly half an hour, but the nutritional value at your table will surely be worth it.