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| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
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| Region or state | England |
Mushy peas are dried marrowfat peas which are first soaked overnight in water with baking soda, and then rinsed in fresh water, after which the peas are gathered in a saucepan, covered with water, and brought to a boil, and then simmered until the peas are softened. The mush is seasoned with salt and pepper.[1]
Throughout England (Northern England and the Midlands in particular) and Republic of Ireland they are a traditional accompaniment to fish and chips. They are not a particularly traditional addition in this context in Scotland. In Northern England they are also commonly served as part of a popular snack called pie and peas (akin to the South Australian pie floater; but instead of the thick pea soup of the floater, in pie and peas it is mushy peas which accompany the meat pie) and are considered to be a part of traditional British cuisine. They are sometimes also packed into a ball, dipped in batter, deep-fried, and served as a pea fritter.[2] Mushy peas can also be bought ready-prepared in tin cans.
InYorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and parts of Lincolnshire, mushy peas are often served as a snack on their own. In Nottinghamshire they are traditionally accompanied by mint sauce, and sold at open-air events such as fairsorfêtes. In Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, mushy peas served with chips is called a 'pea mix'.
A variant (particularly popular around Bolton and BuryofGreater Manchester, and Preston, Lancashire) is parched peas – carlin peas (also known as maple peas or black peas) soaked and then boiled slowly for a long time; these peas are traditionally served with vinegar.
Mushy peas have occasionally been referred to as "Yorkshire caviar".[3]
Most commercially produced mushy peas contain artificial colourants to make them green; without these the dish would be murky grey.[4] Traditionally the controversial colourant tartrazine (E102) had been used as one of the colourants; however, as recently as 2019, major manufacturers were using a combination of brilliant blue FCF (E133) and riboflavin (E101).[5]
