Paraben Free Buttered Pearl Onions and Peas
Few side dishes are as quietly satisfying as sweet pearl onions and bright green peas finished with a little butter and fresh herbs. The combination is classic for a reason — the natural sweetness of the onions deepens as they glaze in the skillet, while the peas stay vivid and tender. For anyone navigating paraben sensitivities, this dish is a genuinely clean choice, built entirely from whole, simple ingredients with no preservatives or synthetic additives hiding anywhere in the list. Both fresh and frozen options work beautifully here, so you can pull this together any time of year without compromise. The thyme and optional parsley bring a fresh, aromatic lift that makes the whole thing feel a little more special than its short ingredient list might suggest. It pairs effortlessly with roasted meats, fish, or a simple grain, and comes together in one skillet with minimal fuss.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 1 lb fresh or frozen pearl onions
- 2 cups fresh or frozen peas
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- ½ cup water
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 1
If using fresh pearl onions, bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Score a shallow X on the root end of each onion, then blanch for 1 minute. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold water until cool enough to handle. Pinch each onion at the stem end to slip off the skin. If using frozen pearl onions, skip this step — they are already peeled.
- 2
In a large skillet, combine the peeled pearl onions, ½ cup water, 1 tbsp of the butter, and the salt. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then cover and cook until the onions are just tender when pierced with a knife, about 8–10 minutes.
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