Greek Style Peas-Arakas Latheros

Today I am sharing a favorite, traditional Greek recipe. Another lathero. This one is called arakas latheros, translated as peas cooked in olive oil. Not only is it easy to make, but it is also a comfort food: cooked vegetables in a rich olive oil-tomato sauce, accompanied with tangy feta and good bread to dip in the yummy juices.

I feel peas are an underestimated food, usually served on the side plainly boiled with a lump of butter on them. However, in Greek cuisine we cook them in olive oil and tomato, along with dill. We also add carrots and potatoes-(today I added only carrots as I did not have any potatoes). This meal of course, is accompanied by feta and bread. Again this is a vegetable based main meal that is characteristic of the Greek diet, not a side dish. So in essence you fulfill almost all your vegetable needs of the day, in just one meal.

Peas although a starchy vegetable, are a good source of protein. Peas are actually considered a legume. Apart from protein it is a great source of fiber, beta-carotene, vitamin C, folate, but also a good source of iron and calcium. In addition peas have high antioxidant activity due to the presence of beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin.

This dish, as with all lathera is consumed at room temperature and tastes better the next day.

Greek Style Peas-Arakas Latheros

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Cooked peas in a rich olive oil-tomato sauce, accompanied with tangy feta and good bread to dip in the yummy juices.
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean
Author: Elena Paravantes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in a medium sized pot.
  • Sauté onions until soft. Add carrots and potatoes and sauté 3-4 minutes more.
  • Add peas and heat and mix until all peas are covered in the olive oil.
  • Add the tomato, dill, pepper and a half teaspoon salt. Add enough hot water so that the peas are covered just a bit (about ¼ cup).
  • Mix well and bring to a boil. Then lower heat and simmer for 30 minutes, until peas are soft and water is gone-they should only be left with the olive oil.
  • Serve at room temperature with feta and bread. Add salt as needed.
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? Leave a comment or share on instagram and mention @greekdiet
Photo by Elena Paravantes

82 Comments

  1. Just finished making it! It’s perfect for those fasting days when oil is permitted!! Very good and easy!!5 stars

    1. I have made this a number of times it’s delicious and as my husband likes to have meat it’s best of both worlds, he gets to have meat with this dish and i crumble feta. Lovely simple dish, sometimes I leave the skin on my potatoes if they are lovely and fresh5 stars

  2. OMG, I can’t believe I waited so long to try this recipe. I invited my brother for lunch and made this with a greek salad. I can’t wait to make again, we both agreed it was the bomb. I added 4 chicken thighs and served with fresh pita bread from Mediterranean Market.
    PS : I love your cookbook, I’m looking everyday to see what I should make next.5 stars

    1. I simmer 20 minutes covered and then another 10-15 minutes uncovered (or until the liquid evaporates). Just depends on how much water you add and how big your skillet is.5 stars

    1. Can you pretty please share your Instant Pot adaptation?! I seriously want to try making it that way! Thank you!

  3. I’ve made this twice now! It’s definitely a keeper! Tastes great any time of day…Thank you so much for sharing this!5 stars

  4. I can’t even tell you how much I love this recipe. I am not much of a meat eater, so I absolutely love this dish! I make a piece of chicken for my hubby and he enjoys the peas as a side dish. He’s lucky that I share, as I love the peas so much. It brings me back to the times I spent in the garden with my Gramma. Thank you so much for sharing this with us. It’s truly a favorite of mine.
    P. S. I also love your Fasolakia recipe from the cookbook. I made it many times last summer with ingredients fresh from my garden.5 stars

  5. Just like my mom makes it. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I make this for my two year old when I’m low in veggies but always have these ingredients on hand. I/we love it, especially on a cold night.5 stars

  6. This is just what I needed today. As a native South African and a comvert to Greek Orthodoxy, I still struggle with vegetable based cooking, and your blog is the gift that keeps on giving! Thank you

  7. I found this page because I was looking for this very recipe that my mother used to make. She used to shell the fresh peas and use the skin in the stew after taking of the hard membrane on the inside of the shells. Delicious ,delicious!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating