Give peas a chance?

It’s always amazing how fewer than 140 characters can stir up a giant controversy. That’s what happened today when The New York Times tweeted a link to a guacamole recipe with this caption “Add green peas to your guacamole. Trust us.” Reactions from chefs and others were swift and passionate. 

People across the globe chimed in, with some telling the newspaper to “delete your account“, and others chastizing the newspaper publication for giving “possibly the worst food advice ever”. Bad puns like “Guaca-NO-le” quickly followed. The controversy even got politicians from opposite sides of the spectrum to agree: US presidential candidate Jeb Bush and President Barack Obama both voiced their opposition to adding peas to guacamole. 

The NYT’s recipe itself is not new; it originated at ABC Cocina from chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten a couple of years ago. Says the NYT’s Melissa Clark: “Adding fresh English peas to what is an otherwise fairly traditional guacamole is one of those radical moves that is also completely obvious after you taste it.”

A quick search of the EYB Library found 6 guacamole recipes that include peas, including the highly rated Smashed pea guacamole with cilantro, ginger and lime from Food52 (pictured above). Where do you stand on peas in guacamole – it is a stroke of culinary genius or is it heresy?