When I was a kid, either creamed peas or creamed pearl onions or a combination of both were on the menu now and then, especially at Grandma’s house. Honestly, I wonder if they were the ones that used to come in the box, frozen. They were often served with Salmon Loaf, so when I reworked Grandma’s Salmon Loaf recipe into Not Grandma’s Salmon Loaf, I thought I’d better address the Creamed Peas & Pearl Onions, too. They really do go so well together and the cream sauce serves as a sauce for the Salmon Loaf, too.
Not Grandma’s Salmon Loaf – with Creamed Peas & Pearl Onions
As a kid, though, I’d push the peas and or onions aside and just eat the sauce! Seriously, I woud dip the tines of my fork in the sauce and eat it. To this day, I’m not sure how I got by with that, but I had a hatred of peas that lasted a lifetime. Until I made an effort to eat them as an adult (ok, just a few years ago) and found out they’re not so bad, after all. Especially when they’re in this lovely cream sauce which is def a HUGE step up from the frozen boxed stuff. Hey, all I am sayin’ is give peas a chance!
About Creamed Peas & Pearl Onions:
Although they’re easy and quick enough to make, Creamed Peas & Pearl Onions really aren’t your everyday ol’ Tuesday night dinner fare; at least not for me at my house when weeknights are usually quick and simple without a lot of extra steps or extra pans or dishes to wash.
But Creamed Peas & Pearl Onions are a great side for anything plain (and they were just the thing for that Not Grandma’s Salmon Loaf) and really read as something special if you want to trot them out for company or a holiday like Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter. It’s funny that when you add a simple cream (or white sauce as the are sometimes called) not only does a dish seem fancier, but it stretches the dish and makes it somehow seem like more. If you have any questions about Cream or White Sauces, be sure to check out my post on White Sauces & What to Do with Them.
These are very good with a cream sauce made with only milk, but for a special occasion, I can’t resist a touch of cream added at the end. It takes these Creamed Peas & Pearl onions to a whole ‘nuther level – just a good drizzle of cream when they’re finished makes them rich without being too too over the top decadent!
Not Grandma’s Salmon Loaf – with Creamed Peas & Pearl Onions.
Making Creamed Peas & Pearl Onions:
The onions in this recipe really need a head start so they’re soft and luscious and just right when everything else is ready. I like to toss them in the skillet with some butter and a little water and lid them. When the water is evaporated the onions should be just about done and glazed with butter. If they’re not done to your liking add a bit more water and keep cooking them.
The rest is a cinch. Sprinkle the flour over the onions and cook a minute to lose that floury taste add the milk in increments as you whisk. It’s nice to have whisk with tines that are close together so the onions don’t all clump inside it. The peas don’t take long to cook as they’re partially cooked already prior to freezing, so toss them in as the sauce just starts to thicken. They really only need to heat through. As far as the peas, you can add a cup or two, maybe even a few more if you want. It just depends on how many peas you want and what your perfect pea to sauce ratio is.
I purposely wrote the recipe so that when the peas are done, the sauce is still just a little on the thick side – that gives you room to thin with milk if you’d like or to add some cream for richness. Just know that how thick the sauce is in the pan is a little deceiving. Once the Creamed Peas & Pearl Onions cool a bit from molten hot to serving temperature, it will thicken up some so you’ll want to err on the thin side. If you have leftovers and reheat this recipe, do so very gently or that sauce can thin out.
Saving Money on Creamed Peas & Pearl Onions:
While there are some frozen veggies that are just not that great, both frozen peas and pearl onions are some that I use pretty regularly. They both compare price-wise to fresh very well and they’re both such a time saver. I’ve never shucked my own peas, but I do know that preparing and peeling those pearl onions is a royal pain in the patootie!
Watch for frozen vegetables on sale, especially in the fall when the prices are usually lowest (the harvest is in, the warehouses are full and the producers want to move their product) and stock up your freezer with frozen vegetables you use; just don’t go overboard. You’ll find prices on frozen veggies rise through the winter and into spring and summer but there will be good sales pretty regularly, often with coupons, if you use them, throughout the year and especially around holidays.
For basic items like flour, butter, and cream, you really can’t beat Aldi where regular prices usually beat out grocery store sale prices. No Aldi? Get in the habit of shopping holiday sales. Stock up on butter during the winter holidays and before Easter and freeze. Buy cream during holidays if you use it; with the high-fat content, it keeps for weeks. What you’re doing and how you will always enjoy the biggest savings, is by getting in the habit of strategically placing the most money on items when they are at the best prices.
Creamed Peas & Pearl Onions
Creamed Peas & Pearl Onions
Creamed Peas & Pearl Onions, a classic combo – and pure comfort food! Minutes to make, they’re company worthy!
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 to 8 1x
- Category: Sides
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 8 ounces frozen pearl onions, thawed if possible
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 to 3 tablespoons water
- 2 1/2 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups of milk
- 2 cups frozen peas
- enough milk get to the desired consistency
- cream, to enrichen, optional
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Using a large, 12″ inch skillet, add onions, butter, and water. Cover with a lid and bring to a boil, turn down to a simmer stirring now and then until onions are just soft and water evaporated. If onions aren’t soft when the water is gone, add a little more, tablespoon by tablespoon. If onions are soft and there is still water, remove lid and let excess evaporate.
Add flour, sprinkling over the onions and butter, stir and cook for a minute or two so the flour will lose any raw taste. Add the milk in increments, whisking after each, then bring to a simmer, stirring often. As the mixture just begins to thicken add the peas and continue to cook until the mixture reaches the desired consistency and peas are cooked through, three to five minutes.
Adjust the thickness of the cream sauce by adding more milk or enrichen, if desired by a good drizzle of cream. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Keywords: Cream, hearty sides, milk, pearl onions, Peas, Side, Vegetable Side
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I’ll be sharing Creamed Peas & Pearl Onions at Fiesta Friday #268. Fiesta Friday is co-hosted this week by Julianna @ Foodie on Board and Angie, herself, who puts on Fiesta Friday!
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