Mushy Peas - Local Variants

Local Variants

In Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and parts of Lincolnshire, they are often served as a snack on their own. They are traditionally accompanied by mint sauce, and sold at open-air events such as fairs or fêtes. In Derbyshire, mushy peas served with chips is called a 'pea mix'. Mushy peas are also popular in Scotland served with fish and chips or a wetter version with vinegar in a bowl.

Mushy peas have occasionally been referred to as "Yorkshire caviar".

A variant (particularly popular around Bolton, Bury and Preston, Lancashire, is parched peas – carlin peas (also known as maple peas, or black peas) are soaked and then boiled slowly and for a long time; the peas are traditionally served with vinegar.

Norwich Market has a permanent stall devoted to mushy peas. The stall has primarily sold mushy peas - without any colouring - for the last 60 years every day except Sunday (market closed). It is known to be the oldest such stall in East Anglia..

In Nottingham, the Victoria Centre market had for years featured a mushy peas stall that went back to the original "central market", pre-dating the Victoria Centre itself. Hot peas were served there with shell fish, mint sauce, salt and vinegar, as well as pies and pasties. The stall closed in 2010.

Mushy peas are also a feature of Nottingham's Goose Fair.