I love peas – but I have now realised that many, many people don’t.  What is not to love I ask?  They are sweet, soft, easy to prepare (well the frozen kind is) and versatile!  Soups, salads, buttered, baked – you name it the pea can handle it.  We had some lovely friends over to dinner the other night and (after a moment’s hesitation that they might not be pea people) I thought pea crostini!!!  For my friends who don’t like peas (and you guys know who you are) – it is time to look away!  This dish is dead simple and easy to make and is great as a substantial appetiser when you haven’t had time to get dinner on the way and you need to tide people over.

Crostini

1 Baguette, sliced about 3cm thick

Olive oil

Set oven for 180 degrees celsius.  Place sliced baguette on oven tray and drizzle liberally with olive oil.  Put in oven for 15 mins or until golden brown.  Be careful that you don’t overcook the crostini – it needs to be golden and toasted but not too brown or it will shatter when you eat it.

Pea Puree

Half a bag of frozen peas

1 Head of garlic

Butter

Salt

Parmesan and cracked pepper to serve

Wrap garlic in aluminium foil and place in oven at 180 degrees celsius for 20 mins or until cloves are soft.  Microwave the peas on high for three minutes.  Let cool slightly.  Place peas and garlic (just squeeze the cloves out of the paper into the processor bowl) and a good hunk of butter in food processor and process until thick. Add salt to taste.  ( I refrigerated it for a bit to allow the puree to harden up and become more spreadable.)

Lather the crostini with pea puree, cracked pepper and long strips of parmesan cheese!  Voila.