Canada's Food Guide recommends we eat at least one dark green vegetable every day. In spring, it's almost impossible not to fill that quota with snow peas, snap peas or the oh-so-delicate pea shoots.

Peas are usually the first vegetable to sprout in backyard gardens -- and when they're ready, they're always ready at once. Whether you grow them yourself or pick some up at the market, here are 10 fresh peas recipes to help you make the most of your harvest:

Peas, please! Snow peas recipes

Snow Peas with Ham
Just a touch of cured (not smoked) ham makes this a very tasty dish. It's best to buy a 1/4-inch/5 mm thick slice of ham at the deli counter (rather than thinly sliced packaged ham) and cut it into slivers.

Shrimp with Snow Peas
Grating the ginger and using only the juice is a classic Chinese method that lends a subtle ginger note to food. Serve this speedy stir-fry with rice.

Pork and Snow Peas
Steamed over vegetables, the pork tenderloin is simply succulent, and this main dish is packed with B vitamins.

Chinese Chicken with Snow Peas
This recipe features a standard Chinese method of stir-frying in which the meat is cooked very quickly in hot oil, then drained, so it absorbs very little oil.  

Pease, please! Snap peas recipes

Sweet Pea and Potato Salad
This seasonal salad is also delicious made with fresh peas rather than sugar snaps; use 2 to 3 cups/500 to 750 mL shelled peas.

Fresh Pea Risotto
This one-pot early summer dish is simple yet sophisticated. If you make this risotto outside of pea season, you can use frozen peas (just add them in the last 5 minutes of cooking). And if you have any fresh mint on hand, shred it and sprinkle over the risotto. Serve with crusty bread and a glass of fresh white wine, such as an Italian Soave or Gavi.

New Potato and Pea Salad
This salad combines two of our best early summer vegetables, potatoes and peas, with seasonal herbs. Serve it warm or at room temperature. If your potatoes are small, leave them whole; halve or quarter larger ones.

Peas, please! Pea shoot recipes

Shanghai-Style Pea Shoot Wontons in Chicken Broth
The tender tops of pea plants with a fairly assertive pea flavour, pea shoots are considered a delicacy in China and are well worth a trip to a Chinese grocer. Square Shanghai wonton wrappers (also called large or white wonton wrappers) are available at some large grocery stores and at Chinese food shops. Substitute round dumpling wrappers if unavailable; they are a bit thicker and will therefore require a little longer cooking time.

Stir-Fried Pea Shoots
These tender greens will be your favourite side dish all spring.

Poached Eggs on Ham with Pea Shoots and Butter Sauce
The colours of this dish really say spring! As there are a few parts to be put together, get one of your guests to help you plate, so everything is hot when served.