Black peas (carlins) and how to cook them

[@jonsiverns8852]

What a blast from the past, I live in the West Midlands and we used to have these every Saturday, we call them grey peas. My mom always soaked them in boiling water and a bicarbonate tablet first and then cooked them with onions and oxo cubes, then put a load of cooked bacon, along with its fat in it. We always had a bowl with loads of crusty bread. They were always done on bonfire night. One of the best tasting, simple meals you can have. I think you can still get them at certain butchers and some pet shops sell them. The only downside is the wind the next day!

[@MossHomeandGarden]

Oh Jon that sounds amazing, I think I might have to source some more and try a few recipes out in the slow cooker!

[@felicitywright791]

Thanks for this. You can get the peas (Red Fox AND Black Badger varieties) mail order from a firm called Hodmedod's. They are still sold hot, with salt, pepper & vinegar, as a snack on Preston Market. Another traditional way to serve them is with hot, with butter, brown sugar & rum. This sort of dried pea, along with the type of small, dried broad beans known as field beans here and fava beans in America, were the protein staples for the population of Europe and the Middle East for thousands of years. I don't know why we've virtually stopped eating them in Britain! They're still popular abroad. Well done for spreading the word! x

[@MossHomeandGarden]

Wow! Thanks for this super information Felicity, very appreciated, I managed to find a couple of places now that sell them online so have quite a few bags in my cupboard, in fact I'm goin to put some on to soak right now! Cheers!!

[@ChristopherBush-j4r]

Bury market are selling them at the moment, lovely

[@MossHomeandGarden]

They're great aren't they? I bought 4 kilos online, so happy days!!

[@steveday4797]

Have you thought about growing them yourself? Could be am interesting experiment

[@MossHomeandGarden]

I hadn't really Steve, I've found a supplier in the UK that provides them at quite a decent price delivered, so don't think it's worth the effort to grow them to eat...however you've now made me wonder if it's worth just doing a few as an experiment to see what happens? One for Spring maybe!

[@clarehatcher760]

Holland and barratt sell them in 500gm packs! ☺️

[@MossHomeandGarden]

Good to know! Thanks 👍

[@carmeldickenson9645]

You can get them in Holland and Barrett 😊

[@MossHomeandGarden]

Thanks Carmel, I've found a couple of places now online, buy H&B is a useful alternative as I pass one every day.

[@thebohemian.]

I’ve recently found these for sale in my local, Essex, Holland & Barrett. The instructions are shorter than yours. Rinse, soak overnight, bring to the boil, simmer for 40-45. These peas are maybe a different variety.

[@MossHomeandGarden]

Funny you should say that, I bought some online 2 weeks ago and they’re the same. The variety I used in the film were a lot tougher!

[@l0tus4life]

👍

[@MossHomeandGarden]

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