Incredibly delicious creamed peas and creamed leeks made healthy without dairy cream or flour. A nutritious, flavor packed side dish to add to your Thanksgiving menu but also to your weekly recipe rotation year round.
Rinse the frozen peas under tap water then add them to a medium bow. Cover with room temperature water and allow them to thaw out completely while prepping the leeks.
1 lb frozen green peas
Slice the leeks into thin rounds and place them in a large bowl. Cover with cold water and give them a good rinse around. Allow to sit undisturbed for 15 minutes or so and allow any sand and dirt to fall to the bottom of the bowl while the cleaned leeks will float to the top.
2 medium leeks
Preheat a large heavy bottom high sided skillet on medium high heat.
Using your hands or a spider ladle spoon out the leeks from the water and add them straight into the dry hot skillet. Repeat with the remaining leeks. The moisture from the wet leeks will create steam and help with the sautéing process. Sprinkle the leeks with a pinch of salt and give it a stir.
2 medium leeks
Optional: Once the leeks have wilted you can add a small drizzle of olive oil to help caramelize the edges a little bit and create depth of flavor. (Omit oil for WFPB + Plantricious diets).
Drain the green peas and add them to the pan with the leeks together with the thyme leaves. Toss to coat well and season with another pinch of salt.
1 lb frozen green peas, 5 thyme sprigs
The Cream
Process the cashew cream ingredients in a powerful blender such as Vitamix until the sauce is silky smooth. (NOTE: If your blender isn’t one of the powerful ones it’s very important to soak the cashews in boiling hot water for 20 minutes before blending. Discard the soaking water).
1 cup raw cashews, 1.75 cups water, 1/2 lemon, 3 Tbsp nutritional yeast, 1 Tbsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp granulated garlic , 1 tsp sea salt + more to taste, 1 tsp dijon mustard
Pour the cashew cream over the peas and leeks and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for about 5 to 10 minutes until the cream has thickened and the green peas have cooked to your liking. I prefer mine at the point they start changing color to an olive green, they still have a nice bite but not mushy.
Adjust seasonings to tase with more salt and pepper and serve hot.
WFPB + Plantricious
For the recipe to be fully compliant make sure to sautee the leeks in water or veggie broth and do not add any oil to your dish.
Notes
About the Cream - It is going to seem very thin at first but please trust the process, it will thicken up amazingly once it simmers for a few minutes with the peas and leeks. If you don't have a super powerful blender such as a Vitamix, please remember to soak your cashews for 20 minutes in hot water before blending. This is important so the cream is silky and luscious without any grainy bits.
Using Fresh Peas - If you happen to get your hands on some fresh produce or better yet grow your own, then by all means use them here. They can go straight into pot with the leeks and simmered in the cream sauce until tender to your liking.