Home Cook Together. Celebrate Life.

GreekAuthentic Cuisine

Arakas Laderos

Serves 4 to 6 Side vegetarian, Sides

Arakas Laderos

Arakas Laderos is a quintessential springtime dish found on tables throughout Greece, where the arrival of fresh peas signals the season's bounty. This home-style version embodies the simplicity and warmth of Greek family cooking, with ingredients that are as unpretentious as they are flavorful. It's a recipe passed from hand to hand, with olive oil used liberally and lemon close by, ready to brighten each bite.

The taste of Arakas Laderos is a gentle harmony of sweet peas and earthy carrots, enriched by the lushness of olive oil and the aromatic whisper of dill. Each forkful is tender, with a hint of lemon that cuts through, offering a refreshing lift. It's the kind of dish that speaks quietly but with great affection, a true reflection of Greek home cooking.

Ingredients

  • 800 gpeas
  • 2carrots — sliced
  • 1potato — cubed
  • 1onion
  • 120 mlolive oil
  • dill — chopped
  • to tastefine sea salt

Method

  1. Begin by preparing your vegetables. Peel and dice the 2 carrots and 1 potato into small, even cubes, about 1 cm each. This ensures they cook evenly and blend well with the peas. Finely chop the onion, as this will form the aromatic base of the dish.
  2. In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, heat 120 ml of olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until it becomes soft and translucent, stirring occasionally. This should take about 5 to 7 minutes, and you'll notice a sweet aroma as the onion caramelizes slightly.
  3. Once the onion is ready, add the diced carrots and potato to the pot. Stir them gently to coat with the olive oil and onion mixture. Allow them to cook for about 5 minutes, which will start to soften them and infuse them with flavor.
  4. Add the 800 g of peas to the pot, stirring to combine them with the other vegetables. Pour in enough water to just cover the peas and vegetables. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, ensuring the heat is not too high to avoid breaking the peas.
  5. Cover the pot and allow the vegetables to cook until they are tender. This will take about 20 to 25 minutes. You'll know it's done when the peas are bright green and the carrots and potatoes are fork-tender.
  6. Once the vegetables are cooked, season the dish with fine sea salt to taste. Stir in a handful of chopped fresh dill, which will add a fragrant, herbal note to the dish. Serve the Arakas Laderos warm or at room temperature, with lemon wedges on the side for squeezing over just before eating.
Cover of Authentic Greek Cuisine
From the cookbook

Authentic Greek Cuisine

This recipe is from Authentic Greek Cuisine by Yassine Sbiti — the Greek volume in the ComidaTime International Cuisines series.

Buy the cookbook on Amazon Explore Greek cuisine