Petits Pois à la Française (Braised Peas with Lettuce)
Sweet peas gently braised with butter, little gem lettuce and spring onions until silky, a classic French side for roast chicken or fish.
Made with Homemade vegetable stock. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time25 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £2.48 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Melt the butter in a wide pan over a medium heat. Add the spring onions and garlic and cook for 2 minutes until soft but not coloured.
2 min - 2
Add the shredded lettuce and stir for 1 minute until it begins to wilt.
- 3
Tip in the frozen peas and pour over your ready made vegetable stock (see the base recipe). Season with salt and black pepper.
- 4
Cover and simmer gently for 8 minutes, until the peas are tender and the lettuce has melted into a silky sauce.
8 min - 5
Uncover and cook for 2 minutes to reduce any extra liquid so it glazes the peas.
2 min - 6
Stir in the mint, parsley and lemon juice. Serve hot.
Tips
- Use butter for the classic taste. For a dairy free and vegan side, swap in 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
- Fresh peas need 10 to 12 minutes. Frozen petits pois are sweeter than many fresh peas bought from a shop, because they are frozen within hours of picking.
- Do not cook it for long after the lettuce has wilted, or the peas lose their colour.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten fresh. Cool leftovers quickly, keep in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Can I make petits pois à la française dairy free?
Yes. Replace the butter with olive oil or a dairy free spread. It then suits vegan, dairy free and gluten free diets as well.
What goes well with braised peas?
Roast chicken, grilled white fish, lamb chops and simple potato dishes all suit it. It also works as a light supper on toast.
Can I use fresh peas?
Yes. Use 700 g unshelled peas, which gives about 250 g shelled, or simply use frozen. Fresh peas may need a few extra minutes.
More made with homemade vegetable stock
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.