Snow Pea

Snow peas are a variety of pea grown for their tender, edible pods rather than the mature seeds inside. The entire pod is eaten — shell and all — while the peas within remain small and undeveloped. Their delicate sweetness and crisp texture make them a staple in stir-fries, salads, and Asian-inspired dishes.

In Australian kitchens, snow peas are one of the most popular Asian greens, available year-round but at their best in cooler months. They require minimal preparation — just a quick trim of the stem end and removal of any string along the seam — and cook in seconds. They’re equally good raw, adding crunch to salads and platters.

Snow peas are closely related to sugar snap peas, though snow peas are flatter with less-developed peas inside. They’re sometimes called mangetout, from the French for “eat all,” reflecting the fact that nothing goes to waste.