Spring Pea Toast and Mascarpone and Lemon

This easy spring toast is loaded with the best flavors of the season: sweet peas, creamy mascarpone, lemon, and fresh herbs (and a little sumac for a citrusy pop). It's bright, flavorful, and pretty!

Pea toasts on a white board with lemon in the back.

It's time for another fancy toast, and this one is all about the pea. These tiny, sweet green gems pair perfectly with creamy mascarpone creating a simple mix of seasonal flavors piled high on buttery toast. We mean, who can resist?

Key ingredients

What's great about this toast is that you can use fresh or frozen peas. English peas peak in spring, but sometimes they can be hard to find. So, grab a bag of frozen peas, steam them up, and your'e half way to a good toast!

Overhead of pea toasts with mascarpone on white parchment.

Step-by-step instructions

Guys, this is easy. Cook and season the peas, toast the bread, mix the mascarpone, then assemble. That's it!

Overhead of seasoned peas in a clear bowl on a cutting board.

Step 1. Steam the peas. Add the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and sumac (if using).

Mascarpone and lemon zest in a clear bowl.

Step 2. Add the lemon zest and salt to the mascarpone.

A white spatula in a clear bowl of mascarpone.

Step 3. Mix until creamy and blended. Toast the bread until golden brown.

Assembling pea toast on a cutting board with mascarpone and dill to the side.

Step 4. Spread the mascarpone on the toast, add the peas, pressing gently. Season to taste with herbs and olive oil.

*These are abbreviated instructions. The full list of directions can be found in the recipe card below.

Expert tips

Toast the bread in a skillet. Pan-frying the toast in olive oil or butter in a hot skillet is the best way to achieve that crispy bite.
Don't skip the sumac. We know it's not an everyday spice, but if you have it or are thinking about purchasing it, this is the solid way to use it. A sprinkle of sumac adds a bright, lemony tang that pulls all the flavors together.

Swaps

Want to switch things up a bit? Play with the flavors to make it our own.

Add nuts. We love a good crunch. Pistachios would be solid crushed on top.
Switch up the herbs. Fresh parsley, chives, oregano, or marjoram are great options.
Spice it up. Add a pinch of cumin for a subtle smoky flavor, or make it spicy with crushed red pepper or Aleppo flakes.
Swap the cheese. Instead of mascarpone you can use cream cheese labneh or even goat cheese.

Pea toasts with mascarpone and fresh herbs on a white board.

Why we skip the smashed peas

Smashed pea toast is definitely a popular variation, but after testing, we found it dulled both the flavor and the overall look. The peas lost their crisp bite, and honestly, we love the look of the whole peas on toast!

Serving suggestions

Pea toast is suited to spring, summer, or a special brunch. It's hearty enough to be eaten as a main breakfast or lunch, or you can serve it appetizer style (pea crostini).

Don't forget to wash it down with a bubbly soda drink or our refreshing lemonade!