Cherry blossoms. Butterflies. Misted, dewy mornings. Song bird serenades.
These are the things that spring is made of.
Fava beans. Asparagus. Rhubarb. Soft green herbs. Morel mushrooms.
These are the things that spring tastes like.
The promise of these things are what make winter worth enduring, no matter how brutal or seemingly interminable those frigid, forbidding days of darkness become. Slowly but surely, that veil of frost will be lifted to reveal to reveal tender green shoots emerging from quickly thawing earth, revitalized after such fitful slumber.
At long last, all signs point to spring here on the west coast, although that’s not quite the case nationwide. It’s hard to imagine blizzard conditions elsewhere while strapping on sandals to greet the day.
Should these early days of April fall short of expectations, don’t despair. One particular taste of spring is still easily accessible even if your local farmers market remains barren. Fresh peas are an exquisite treat, verdant and shockingly sweet straight out of the pod, but frozen are no terrible sacrifice in a pinch. Roughly mashed into a chunky spread with bright mint and lemon accents, the simple combination is enough to make any residual memories of winter melt away, even if the snow refuses to follow suit.
This combination of rich almond-based ricotta and bright pea puree on a slab of hearty, seeded bread is actually a limited-edition menu item on offer at Nourish Cafe. In case you can’t hustle in before the season comes to a close, it’s an easy recipe to make at home for a taste of spring that everyone can enjoy year-round, worldwide.
Spring Pea Toast
This combination of rich almond-based ricotta and bright pea puree on a slab of hearty, seeded bread is an easy recipe to make at home for a taste of spring that everyone can enjoy year-round, worldwide.
Ingredients
Minted Pea Pistou:
- 1/2 Cup Fresh Mint, Lightly Packed
- 1 Cup Fresh Spinach, Lightly Packed
- 3 Tablespoons Garlic Oil
- 2 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
- 1 Pound (3 Cups) Fresh, Blanched or Frozen, Thawed Green Peas
- 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
For Assembly:
- 4 Thick Slices Toast
- 1 Cup Vegan Ricotta
- 1/2 Cup Fresh Peas
- Pea Shoots or Sprouts (Optional)
- Edible Flowers (Optional)
Instructions
- Place the mint, spinach, garlic oil, and lemon juice in your food processor and blend until the leaves are all broken down and the mixture is fairly smooth. Pause to scrape down the sides of the container as needed to make sure everything gets incorporated. Add in the peas, salt, and pepper, and pulse until spreadable but still slightly coarse.
- To assemble the toast, layer on a thick schmear of vegan ricotta on each slice of bread, followed by the pea pistou and topped with fresh peas, pea shoots, and edible flowers if desired. Savor a taste of spring, no matter the weather outside!
Notes
The pea pistou can be prepared in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 – 4 days.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 216Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 397mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 11gSugar: 12gProtein: 12g
Oh so delightful, Hannah, although the one in your photo is (almost) too pretty to eat! We had several inches of snow here yesterday morning, although it melted off by afternoon and temperatures are supposed to be going up today and after. Thank goodness. I love winter, but I’m ready for spring.
janet
With mint now growing wild in a once bare patch where only occasional weeds survived, I’m only a few ingredients away from tasting spring! I have to admit, I’ve put a great many foods on toast, but never peas. Not yet, anyway.
Take advantage of that bounty! I’ve been hearing rumors that pea toast is the new avocado toast, and while I don’t think anything could dethrone the green king of fruits, I do think you would enjoy this change of pace. :)
Nice to welcome spring with this beautiful green toast !
Such a great post, ready for spring now. I agree, the photo is too pretty to eat. :-)
Just the thing to welcome in spring, so bright and colorful. Plus, there’s always a bag of peas hanging out in the freezer, now to just get the fresh ones. :-)
Oh Hannah! I just realized this is you!!! Oh my goodness, how are you? So delighted to see your new beautiful blog. Would love this for breakfast or any time of the day.
Yes yes, and it’s so wonderful to reconnect! I must sheepishly admit that I’ve been a regular reader of yours all this time, but completely silent. That ends now! I’m glad you’re still blogging and putting out such spectacular posts. It’s truly an inspiration.