Food and Recipes Recipes Sautéed Snap Peas and Mint A fresh and tasty side dish in 10 minutes. By Anna Theoktisto Anna Theoktisto Anna Theoktisto is a recipe tester and developer who's been working in Dotdash Meredith test kitchens since 2017. Her recipes and writing have appeared in over 10 nationally distributed print publications as well as on various digital platforms. Anna's recipes have been showcased on the covers of magazines such as Food & Wine and Southern Living. Anna earned her BS in agricultural education and communication from the University of Florida and a degree in culinary arts from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. She is a member of Les Dames d'Escoffier Birmingham chapter. When not in the kitchen, Anna enjoys hiking with her son, husband, and 2 dogs. She also loves fostering puppies for a local animal rescue group. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on April 18, 2022 Print Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen Active Time: 10 mins Total Time: 10 mins Servings: 4 Jump to recipe Say hello to your new favorite veggie side: our Sautéed Snap Peas and Mint. This lovely, fragrant side dish will brighten up any spring or summer menu. When it comes to a green side, we so often turn to salad. And while there are plenty of ways to gussy up a bowl of lettuce, a plate of simply-cooked vegetables can be just the change of pace you need this summer. The sautéed sugar snap peas and mint come together in just 10 minutes, making them achievable for a simple weeknight dinner or a more elaborate event. Charring the peas adds great color to an otherwise all-green dish and gives a variety in texture. If you can, it's worth seeking out a Meyer lemon, which adds a particularly floral, aromatic note to this vegetable side. And if you can't, a regular lemon will work just fine. Pro tip: to keep mint leaves from turning brown, tear it (instead of chopping) and add to the cooked dish just before serving. Since this side is super simple and easy to prepare, it'd be a great companion to a dish that takes more effort and time, like roasted lamb or pork. Ingredients 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 pound fresh sugar snap peas (with ends trimmed and strings removed) 1 small garlic clove, thinly sliced 3 tablespoons torn fresh mint ½ teaspoon grated lemon zest 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice ½ teaspoon flaky sea salt pinch crushed red pepper Directions Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high until it just begins to smoke. Add fresh sugar snap peas; cook, undisturbed, until peas begin to brown and blister on bottoms, about 2 minutes. Stir once to redistribute in skillet. Cook, undisturbed, until peas are tender-crisp, about 3 minutes, adding garlic clove during final 1 minute cook time. Transfer to a serving bowl. Toss with fresh mint, lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, flaky sea salt, and a pinch of crushed red pepper. Print