Charred Sugar Snap Peas with Lemon and Feta Cheese are crispy, refreshing, and a super quick spring side dish you will love!
Sugar Snap Peas
If you’re looking for a simple yet flavor-packed side dish, these Charred Snap Peas with Lemon and Feta are just what you need. The natural sweetness of snap peas shines when blistered in a hot pan, while tangy feta and fresh lemon juice add the best contrast. This dish is quick to prepare and pairs beautifully with grilled meats, roasted chicken, or fish. The perfect spring side! For more easy spring side dishes, try this Grilled Asparagus, Air Fryer Radishes, and Artichoke Pie.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Once I tried charring sugar snap peas, I never wanted to make them any other way. They’re delish with just a little salt and pepper, but adding lemon and feta cheese makes them over-the-top good. Here’s why it works:
- Quick and Easy: Ready in under 10 minutes.
- Healthy and Nutritious: Packed with fiber, vitamins, and protein from the feta.
- Big on Flavor: A balance of smoky char, bright citrus, and salty cheese.
- Dietary Restrictions: Weight Watchers-friendly, vegetarian, gluten-free, high-fiber, Mediterranean diet-friendly, keto, low-carb
If you make this charred snap pea recipe, I would love to see it. Tag me in your photos or videos on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook. And be sure to join the Skinnytaste Community to see what everyone’s cooking!
What’s the difference between snow peas and sugar snap peas?
Both vegetables consist of green pods with peas inside, but they differ in some ways. Sugar snap peas, which have rounder peas, are crunchier and sweeter than snow peas, which are flatter, wider, and longer. I personally prefer sugar snap peas over snow peas!
What You’ll Need
Here are the ingredients for this easy charred snap pea recipe. See the recipe card below for the exact measurements.
- Sugar Snap Peas: These fiber-rich veggies are packed with vitamin C.
- Garlic: Smash or grate garlic cloves to release their aroma.
- Lemon Juice and Zest provide maximum citrus flavor.
- Salt and Black Pepper season the peas.
- Feta Cheese adds a tangy, salty, creamy element.
How to Cook Sugar Snap Peas
The key to getting a good char on the snap peas is not touching them! Let them sit for a few minutes before stirring so they can brown. See the recipe card at the bottom for printable directions.
- Char the Sugar Snap Peas: Heat oil in a large cast-iron skillet over high heat. Add the sugar snap peas and cook for a few minutes. Then, stir and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes.
- Season: Add the garlic, salt, and pepper and cook for another minute.
- How to Serve: Transfer the vegetables to a shallow dish and top with lemon juice, zest, and feta.
Variations
- Swap the sugar snap peas with snow peas.
- Make it dairy-free: Omit the feta cheese.
- Add fresh herbs: Fresh mint and chives would be great here.
Serving Suggestions
This dish is fantastic alongside roasted salmon, rack of lamb, lamb chops, roasted lemon chicken, or a simple quinoa salad.
Storage
- Refrigerate leftovers for 4 days in an airtight container.
- Reheat them in a skillet on medium heat or microwave until warm. You can also eat them cold.
More Spring Vegetable Side Dishes You’ll Love
For more side dish ideas, check out these five delicious spring vegetable recipes to inspire your next meal!
Charred Sugar Snap Peas
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb sugar snap peas, bottoms and tops trimmed (about 4 cups)
- 2 cloves garlic, smashed or grated
- ½ lemon, juice and zest
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large cast iron or heavy skillet over high heat. Add snap peas and cook, untouched to char, 2-3 minutes. Stir and cook until the snap peas are tender-crisp but still green, another 2 to 3 minutes, stirring.
- Add the garlic, season with salt and pepper and cook 1 minute more.
- Transfer to a shallow dish and top with lemon, zest and feta.
Made this tonight with grilled steaks and it was phenomenal.as an afterthought I threw some bacon on top and ohhh myyyy
So delicious!!! We loved how fresh and light it was. Came together very easily. We are for sure making this one again!
So delicious!!! We loved how fresh and light it was. Came together very easily. We are for sure making Thai one again!
This dish is very tasty! I enjoyed the taste of lemon. Super easy to make and my man also enjoyed it. This will be made again. I like having as many side veggie dishes to make that are delicious and easy to prepare. Thank you!!!!!
Can you share the info for the oval staub pan you used? Thank you!
Here you go! https://amzn.to/3XLDAq7
A favorite, great flavor-the seasonings are perfect, we liked it with or without the feta. Made a nice side for the skinnytaste air fryer fish with almond crumb topping from first air fryer book–plus some steamed green peas. Will make these sugar snap peas a lot.
yes! Just as good without the feta
Delicious! Easy! Just made it and wish I had made a double batch! This is a winner and I will make it again. I liked that the recipe gave how long to cook each step! Thank you!
So glad you loved it!
So easy to make and delicious! Tastes very fresh. Will definitely make it again.
Great!