White Peas (Vatana)

When fresh peas are not available or when you want to enjoy a starchier, hardier flavored legume, dried peas or white vataana are the perfect choice as they are available any time of the year. Although they belong to the same family as beans and lentils, they are usually distinguished as a separate group because of the ways in which they are prepared. The different types of safed Vataana are all spherical, a feature that also sets them apart from beans and lentils. Dried peas are produced by harvesting the peapods when they are fully mature and then drying them. Once they are dried and the skins removed, they split naturally. While we generally associate dried peas with a deep green color, they are also available in a yellowish white(safed) color, which offers a more delicate flavor.