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Vegetarian, Northern, Eastern and Western France

French style peas with soft boiled eggs

French style peas are a simmered dish of peas, pearl onions, and tender lettuce, served with soft boiled eggs for dipping. It serves 4, takes 45 minutes, is rated easy, and costs about €1.70 per serving. The key is laying the lettuce on top of the peas so it steams instead of boiling, staying soft rather than mushy.

I'm thinking French style peas, soft and sweet, with soft boiled eggs to dip right in.

French style peas with soft boiled eggs
Total time
45 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€1.70
Calories per person
450 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Spring, Summer
The kids
They generally like it

French style peas lean on gentle sweetness, the peas softening slowly in butter, the pearl onions barely caramelizing, and the lettuce wilting without ever turning bland. The sugar adds no sweet taste of its own, it just brings forward the natural flavor of the peas. Soft boiled eggs add a creamy touch once you dip in a piece of country bread.

This is a weeknight dish that needs very little hands on time, but it also works as a gentler Sunday lunch option. Kids love dunking bread into the runny yolk, and the soft, sweet peas tend to win over even picky eaters. In spring and summer, it's a simple way to put vegetables at the center of the plate without ever making the meal heavy.

The ingredients

4 people

Frozen foods

  • Frozen peas 700 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Pearl onions 12
  • Lettuce 1

Dairy

  • Eggs 8
  • Butter 40 g

Pantry

  • Sugaroften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Bakery

  • Country bread 6 slices

Allergens Gluten, Lactose, Eggs

The step by step recipe

  1. Melt the butter in a Dutch oven and cook the peeled pearl onions until lightly golden. 6 min

    Soak the onions in hot water for a few minutes first, the skins slip right off.

  2. Add the peas, sugar, salt, pepper, and a small glass of water.

    The sugar brings out the natural sweetness of the peas, it doesn't taste sugary at all.

  3. Lay the shredded lettuce on top, cover, and let it simmer gently. 20 min

    Keep the lid tightly closed so the steam can do its work.

  4. Meanwhile, drop the eggs into boiling water. 6 min

    For perfect soft boiled eggs, drop them straight into boiling water, then straight into cold water.

  5. Peel the eggs, place them on top of the peas, and serve with the country bread.

    Peel the eggs under running water, the shell comes off more easily.

Our tips to get it right

  • Use frozen peas rather than fresh ones out of season, they hold their color and tenderness better once simmered.
  • Go easy on salt at the start, the lettuce and onions release their own salted liquid as they cook covered.
  • Serve the eggs just peeled and still warm, so the yolk runs nicely when you dip the bread in.

The variations

  • Swap the pearl onions for a sliced yellow onion if you can't find any, the flavor stays close.
  • For a richer version, add a handful of smoked bacon bits cooked with the onions at the start.
  • For kids in a hurry, serve the peas alone with buttered bread, skipping the soft boiled eggs.

What to serve it with

  • Grilled country bread
  • Thin slices of ham
  • Sparkling apple juice

Storage

The peas keep for 2 days in the fridge in a sealed container and reheat gently on the stove. Soft boiled eggs are best eaten the same day, they don't keep or freeze well. The pea dish on its own freezes for up to 2 months.

Questions about this dish

Can you make French style peas ahead of time?

Yes, you can cook the peas the day before and reheat them gently on the stove. Prepare the soft boiled eggs at the last minute so the yolks stay runny.

Can you replace the lettuce with another vegetable?

You can use baby spinach or finely shredded green cabbage instead. The cooking time stays the same, just make sure to lay it on top of the peas so it steams.

How do you get soft boiled eggs right every time?

Drop the eggs straight into boiling water for 6 minutes, then plunge them immediately into cold water. This stops the cooking and keeps the yolk nicely runny.

Is this dish good for kids who don't like vegetables?

Yes, peas simmered with butter and a touch of sugar turn very mild and soft. Many kids accept them more easily than plain steamed vegetables.

How long does it take to make French style peas with soft boiled eggs?

Count 45 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in French style peas with soft boiled eggs?

About 450 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does French style peas with soft boiled eggs cost?

About €1.70 per serving, or €6.80 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, lactose, eggs. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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