Pea

Carlin peas simmering in a pan

A pea is the edible fruit of the leguminous plant pisum sativum. Peas are small, green and roughly spherical in shape; they grow in a green pod which is inedible except when very young. Young peas cooked in their pod are known as mange-tout, French for "eat it all".

Peas are sold fresh in their pods, frozen, canned, or dried - the last of these need to be rehydrated before eating, and are sometimes sold rehydrated and canned, as 'processed peas'. In England, mushy peas - a lumpy puree of processed peas - is a popular accompaniment to fish and chips, pies and other dishes.