Smashed Peas on Toast

As simple as smashing peas with a few ingredients and served on toast. Using a humble pea to take your toast to the next level. This creamy, protein-packed topping is a wonderful alternative to an avocado toast.

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FRESH OR FROZEN

I am currently visiting my parents on their farm. They have a large vegetable garden and luckily it's currently pea season. So, naturally I made this using fresh peas that I had just picked a few minutes before preparing this dish. I only needed to blanch them for a few minutes as they are so fresh.

But in saying that frozen will work just as good. All you might need to do is perhaps cook them a little bit longer if you wish.

FRESHLY PICKED

When I posted this recipe on my Instagram page I spoke about the privilege of having grown up on a farm. The privilege of having access to a garden with fresh produce. There is something special about going into the garden, picking what you want for breakfast or lunch that day. Picking and shelling the peas is therapeutic in itself and makes this fresh dish even more wonderful.

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SMASHED INGREDIENTS

• The peas

• Lemon juice and lemon zest

• A good quality tahini

• Plain, unsweetened plant-based yoghurt.

• Sea salt and black pepper

• Garlic granules

• Fresh herbs, such as chives and parsley

ADDITIONAL ADD-INS

• Add some spice with a few chilli flakes or crispy chilli oil

• Add a little bit of miso paste to season the mixture. I recommend first adding the miso and taste before adding salt as the miso is savoury.

• Replace the tahini with almond butter

• Replace the herbs with a little bit of basil pesto

ABOUT THE (VEGAN) YOGHURT

The goal here is to use a plain and unsweetened yoghurt, as we don't want the yoghurt to affect the overall taste.

When I'm in the UK I would use a soya based yoghurt, but in South Africa the best yoghurt that is not coconut based has a macadamia and oat base. Thankfully that works well too.

If you don't have access to yoghurt you can give it a skip or replace it with a little bit of vegan cream cheese. I personally love adding it as it makes it extra creamy and makes it easier for the mixture to hold together.

TOAST

I personally am a big fan of sourdough or my moms home baked bread. However, feel free to use any bread you wish. Toasting is also optional, but I do love the crunch it adds to the dish.

DO I BUTTER THE TOAST?

I don't as the mixture is creamy, but feel free to do so if you wish.

OTHER SAVOURY BRUNCH RECIPES

Harissa Tofu & Avocado Toast

Turkish Eggs inspired Beans

Homemade Baked Beans

Tofu Scramble

SMASHED PEAS ON TOAST

As simple as smashing peas with a few ingredients and served on toast. Using a humble ingredient to take your toast to the next level.

TIME: 10 minutes

SERVES: enough for two slices of sourdough toast

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup of peas, fresh or frozen

• A little bit of lemon zest

• 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

• 1 tbsp tahini

• 1 tbsp unsweetened, plain (dairy-free) yoghurt.

• Sea salt and black pepper, season to taste

• 1/4 tsp garlic granules

• Fresh herbs, such as chives and parsley

• Sesame seeds, to sprinkle on top (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

Cook the peas for a few minutes, until they are soft. Drain them and transfer them to a bowl.

Mash the peas. I find using the back of a fork works well.

I recommend mashing the peas until most of them are squashed. It's really up to you and how much you want them mashed. I personally love them roughly mashed and still have a few whole peas to give extra texture to the mixture.

Add the tahini, lemon zest, lemon juice, yoghurt, garlic granules, herbs and seasoning and mix well.

Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

Toast a couple slices of your bread of choice and top each slice with the wonderful smashed pea mixture.