How to Cook Snow Peas

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Vibrant snow peas make for an easy and delicious side dish. Learn how to cook snow peas on the stovetop in just minutes!

I’m a firm believer in that liking foods, especially vegetables, all comes down to how it was prepared.

It’s not hard to turn down a vegetable when it’s spicy glazed Brussels sprouts or bacon-wrapped asparagus, for example.

The same thing goes for peas. While many grow up loving peas, they weren’t it for me.

Until I discovered snow peas. You might have only eaten snow peas in stir frys, but they can also be quickly cooked on their own for a crisp and vibrant side dish.

This recipe only takes a couple of minutes, so once you know how to cook snow peas, you just might be finding excuses to make them again and again.

Serve them on their own with rice or with your favorite dishes. You’ll love these quick and easy snow peas!

Ingredients for sautéed snow peas

You’ll need:

Olive oil – I usually use olive oil to sauté vegetables as it does not overpower the veggies’ flavor. 

Snow peas – Snow peas are the flat pea pods that are eaten whole. The differ from sugar snap peas, which fat with thicker pods, and shelling peas (English peas), that have the peas removed and the pods discarded. 

Snow peas are in season in late spring to summer, but you can also find them at the grocery store year-round.

The pea pods should be firm and crisp with no dark spots. Scarring from growth is OK, but can be cut off if desired.

Garlic – Use 1 or 2 cloves of garlic, depending on how much you like. Mince it, or push through a garlic press.

Ginger – You’ll need about a teaspoon of minced ginger. You can use fresh ginger or jarred.

Salt and pepper – Season the snow peas to taste.

Crushed red chile flakes – I love adding a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to finish a dish, especially with vegetables! If you don’t like heat, you can leave it out.

How to make this recipe

First, trim snow peas. 

Cut off the stem end. Then, on the other end, make a small cut under the tip and pull the pieces down the length of the pod, removing the fibrous string.

Set a sauté pan or skillet over medium heat.

Add the olive oil, and when hot, add the garlic and ginger and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant.

Add the snow peas and stir to coat. Cook for 2-3 minutes.

The color on the snow peas will turn a vibrant green, and they should be crisp-tender.

Remove from heat, season, and serve.

Steam fry method

Steam frying helps ensure the peas are cooked all the way through, without overcooking.

Follow directions above, and after 2 minutes of cooking, add 1/4 cup of water to the pan.

Increase heat to medium-high and cook 2-3 minutes until water evaporates.

Season and serve.

Recipe suggestions

Snow peas are delicious served a variety of ways, so there’s no limit to what you can do with them.

Cook up with sliced red bell pepper, carrots, or bok choy.

Instead of ginger and crushed red pepper, try a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a bit of lemon zest to flavor the snow peas.

Use a bit of soy sauce instead of salt, and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.

Drizzle on chile crisp, Sriracha, or peanut sauce.

Top with chopped roasted cashews or peanuts.

Add these snow peas to ground beef and green beans, or serve with teriyaki pork chops or air fryer sweet chili tofu and rice.

If you love chicken, serve it with herb crusted chicken and cooked quinoa — perfect for meal planning!