Nandos’ Macho Peas. I don’t think I have ever met anybody who doesn’t like them and to be quite honest, I don’t plan to.
They are such a simple side dish that pairs perfectly with the Peri-Peri spices that Nandos is famous for.
But what If I told you, you didn’t have to wait until your next visit to enjoy Macho peas? What if you could make them in 10 minutes or less in the comfort of your own home?
Fancy it?
Well I did. So that’s why I spent a few afternoons eating bowls of peas and trying to come up with the best possible recipe for homemade Nandos’ style macho peas.
In my humble opinion, the below recipe is the closest you will get to the famous peas outside of the restaurant.
Oh, and did I mention there are only 6 ingredients?!
Let’s get to it, shall we?
Serves: 4
Preparation Time: 5 Minutes
Cook Time: 5 Minutes
Total Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients
- 700g Frozen Green Peas
- 3 tbsp Butter
- 30g Fresh Mint, finely chopped
- 30g Fresh Flat Leaf Parsley, finely chopped
- 3 tsp Red Chili Flakes
Instructions
- Fill a large saucepan full of water and bring to the boil.
- Once boiling, remove from the heat and add your peas. Cover them up and leave them to cook for about 3 minutes. Drain the water but leave about a tablespoons worth in the pan with the peas.
- Using a fork, mash around a quarter of the peas and mix them together with the whole peas.
- Add in your butter, chilli flakes, salt and pepper. Stir until combined.
- Add in your mint and parsley. Again, stir until completely combined and the peas are even coated.
- Serve Immediately.
FAQ's on Nandos Macho Peas
What do Nandos put in their peas?
All of the ingredients we have listed above!
If you check the official Nandos website, the list of ingredient they use in their Macho Peas are as follows:
- Frozen peas
- Water
- Butter
- Parsley
- Mint
- Salt
- Dried Chilli Flakes
How many calories are in Nandos macho peas?
Again, according to the official Nandos website, the below is the nutritional value for their Macho Peas:
What is the difference between the regular boiled peas and Nandos macho peas?
The main differenced between your standard run of the mill peas and Nandos macho peas i the added ingredients and the technique for making them. Macho peas have chopped mint and parsley along with a hint of red chili flakes. These additional ingredients really bring the dish alive.
In addition to this, by mashing a quarter of peas before serving, you are adding a completely different texture to the dish.
All of this leads to the much superior Nandos Macho Peas we all know and love.
Can I use Dried Mint instead of Fresh?
No we would not recommend using dried mint when making macho peas. We tested it out to see if it made much of a difference and believe us, the fresh mint just has that, well, freshness that you cannot replicate with dried.
Don’t worry if you have any leftover fresh mint after making this. You can whip yourself a nice Mojito and toast yourself to a job well done.
Can I use fresh chilli instead of dried chili?
Yes! We tried both and to be honest, there wasn’t much of a difference between the two. Perhaps the fresh chili had a touch more heat, but if you get yourself some good quality dried chili flakes then there is no real benefit to using one over the other.
If you want to know exactly how much dried chili equals fresh, then you are in luck! We have recently published an article that covers exactly that!
Frozen Peas Vs Fresh Peas?
Most of the time, frozen peas are actually better than their fresh counterpart. This is mainly due to the fact that peas are picked and immediately flash-frozen at the very height of their freshness. All of this ensures that their green freshness is locked in and cannot escape.
Fresh peas on the other hand are not flash-frozen. Instead, they are picked, transported and wait to be sold on a supermarket shelf. All the while the green freshness is leaking out and they can become quite starchy.
Frozen peas are reliably delicious with a fresh, tender and sweet-tasting finish.
Are Frozen peas good for you?
They certainly are!
Frozen peas are jam-packed full of vitamins and minerals that provide a whole host of health benefits. Green peas are also one of the very best plant-based sources of protein you will find. The high protein content, along with their high amount of fibre means that peas are very filling and will keep you feeling full for longer.
Peas also help support healthy blood sugar control, benefit your digestion, may be protective against certain chronic diseases including heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
It’s not all sunshine and peapods, however. Peas a few antinutrients that may interfere with digestion and mineral absorption. Those antinutrients are phytic acid and lectins. Despite having containing these, it’s highly unlikely it will cause you any problem unless you eat mountains of peas on a daily basis.
Overall, however, green peas are incredibly good for you when enjoyed as part of a sensible, balanced diet. That sounds like something the experts would say right?