• Home
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
Free e-Cookbook
x
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Sandra Valvassori

Sandra Valvassori

A food space where I create, discover, and share

  • recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Brunch
    • Comfort Foods
    • Dinner
    • Everyday Meals
    • Lunch
    • Side dish
    • Thanksgiving
    • Vegetarian Dishes
    • Vegan
    • Gluten Free
  • About
  • Contact
Home › Side dish

Sugar Snap Peas, Szechaun-Style

Posted: July 19, 2017 | by Sandra Valvassori
Jump to Recipe

Szechuan-Style Sugar Snap Peas

Huge heaps of green pea pods are everywhere right now. Sweet and tender they are impossible to resist. I buy bagfuls of the brilliant little things and as evening approaches, and the day cools down, I sit outside cracking and shelling away, no longer enlisting anyones help since said help ends up eating every single pea they shell. I then stew them simply with a mix of of really good olive oil and butter, and shavings from a chunk of pecorino cheese. So good. However, sugar snap peas, to me, are even more irresistible. I love them. And bonus, no shelling required. Unfortunately they aren’t as plentiful as peas so if you see them, grab them.

Ingredients for Szechuan sauce  Sugar Snap Peas in bowl

Table of Contents[Hide]

Like green peas, snap peas need little embellishment and benefit from the same treatment as peas; a little good-quality oil, a short cook time, a sprinkle of good cheese. But equally simple, another flavour treatment for snap peas that I can’t get enough of, is this soy-based, Szechuan-style spice blend. I do keep the heat toned down a bit since not everyone enjoys too much burn, but the sauce is fantastic with the perfect balance of sweet, spicy and salty flavours. You can find sambal oelek at most Asian stores, but any Asian chili sauce will do.

Likewise, Shaoxing wine, a Chinese fermented rice wine (it might also be labelled as “rice cooking wine”), adds a particularly wonderful  flavour that is worth seeking out and buying, but you can substitute with dry sherry or rice wine vinegar. I like the bit of crunch that the cashews add to the dish, but use peanuts if you prefer or leave them out entirely. With this sauce, the snap peas partner beautifully with pork or lamb chops, or keep it simple and serve them alongside a mound of fluffy white rice.

Sugar Snap Peas Szechuan Style

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

SUGAR SNAP PEAS, SZECHUAN-STYLE

Author: Sandra Valvassori
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Servings 2 -4

Ingredients  

  • ½ pound sugar snap peas trimmed
  • 1 Tablespoon extra-vigin olive oil
  • 3-4 Tablespoons water
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 2- inch piece fresh ginger peeled and minced
  • 1 teaspoon sambal oelek or other chili sauce such as sriracha
  • 1 tablespoon tamari or low sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon maple syrup
  • Toasted chopped cashew nuts for garnish (optional)
  • Toasted sesame seeds for garnish (optional)

Instructions 

  • In a small bowl, combine the ginger, sambal oelek, tamari, shaoxing wine, sesame oil, and maple syrup to make the sauce.
  • In a medium saucepan, add the sugar snap peas, olive oil, water and salt. Bring the water to a boil, lower the heat, cover and simmer for 2-3 minutes or until crisp-tender.
  • Add the sauce, stir, and remove from heat. Serve garnished with cashew nuts and toasted sesame seeds, if desired.
Keywords: Chickpeas, Szechaun
Cuisine Chinese
Tried this recipe?Tag @sandra_valvassori on Instagram or hashtag #sandravalvassori!

 

Strawberry- Rhubarb polenta crisp in skillet

STRAWBERRY RHUBARB POLENTA CRISP (VEGAN)

Sheet pan hasselback sweet potatoes and pork roast

SHEET PAN HASSELBACK HERBED SWEET POTATOES WITH PORK LOIN ROAST

Reader Interactions

5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

Join the Conversation Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Welcome! I'm Sandra.

Here you'll find family-friendly easy weeknight meals and Dominican recipes.
More about Sandra

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook

Browse all recipes

Most talked-about recipes

Whole roasted cauliflower drizzled with tahini sauce, fresh herbs and pistachiosWhole Roasted Cauliflower

Instant Pot Chicken thighs on platter with spoonInstant Pot Chicken Thighs (Fresh or Frozen)

Bolognese with rigatoni pasta in bowlThe Most Exquisite Bolognese Sauce

baked Greek chicken and potatoes in a white casserole dish garnished with lemon slices and fresh oregano.Greek Chicken and Potatoes

Links

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Recipe Index

Join to receive your free e-cookbook

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

© 2025 Sandra Valvassori · Privacy Policy · Site Credits

Site by Meyne X

Recipes

  • Everyday Meals
  • Comfort Foods
  • Simple & Quick
  • Gluten Free

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.