Hrách

Hrách is a Slovak noun meaning peas, the edible seeds of the plant Pisum sativum. The term is common in Slovak language; in Czech the corresponding word is hrášek. Peas belong to the legume family (Fabaceae) and are cultivated as a cool-season crop in temperate regions.

Botany and varieties: Peas grow as annual vines or bushy plants; pods contain the seeds. Major cultivated types include garden peas (edible seeds inside pods) and edible-pod varieties such as snap peas and snow peas, whose pods are eaten along with seeds.

Cultivation and use: Peas prefer fertile, well-drained soil and a cool growing season; sow in early spring; harvest when pods are plump and tender. They are consumed fresh or processed as frozen or dried peas; commonly used in soups, stews, pilafs, and salads. Nutritionally, peas are a good source of plant-based protein, dietary fiber, vitamins C and K, folate, and minerals.