How To Make A Garden Pea Salad

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English Pea Salad – the perfect side dish!

A bowl of pea salad topped with sliced hard cooked eggs

A wonderful, hearty side dish great for many occasions.

English Pea Salad is loaded with hard cooked eggs, a little bacon, (because everything's better with bacon) minced red onion, and cheddar cheese all blended together with a creamy dressing.

If you happen to be invited to a Easter get-together, summer BBQ, bridal luncheon, baby shower, church picnic or office potluck, this is the salad you want to take along to share. It comes together in a flash and is so easy to make! This salad even gets better after sitting for a few hours so making it ahead of time is preferred.

If you've only tried pea salad from the mayonnaise-bar at the all-you-can-eat buffet, you're in for a nice surprise. This pea salad is coated in a tangy dressing but is not swimming in it. It's not at all watery or mushy, and the contrasting textures of the ingredients really stand out.

A spoonful of English pea salad with boiled eggs, bacon and cheese

Save a few slices of hard cooked egg, diced cheese and chopped bacon for a nice garnish before serving.

I like to save the bacon for last, adding it just before serving. It retains it's nice crispy-crunch while adding that delicious salty bite. You can cut the cheddar into cubes or shred it on a large box grater, either way it works great. Be sure to check the seasoning and add more salt if needed. I tend to go low salt on all my recipes, but this pea salad needs a little.

The brand of bacon will make a difference in how much seasoning you need. I used an all-natural uncured peppered bacon with loads of flavor. I've often wondered if maple bacon would be good in this pea salad, adding that little bit of sweetness … yum!

A blue bowl of English pea salad with boiled eggs, bacon and cheese

Be sure to use good quality frozen peas and thaw them completely in the refrigerator.

Place the bags of frozen peas in the refrigerator the night before making the salad. They'll be thawed by the time they're needed the next day. I don't like to use canned peas for this salad as they're soft and watery, and dull in color. Fresh frozen peas have a nice snap when you bit into them, great color and a terrific fresh flavor.

If you're worried about eating raw previously frozen peas, drop them in boiling water for 2-4 minutes and remove with a slotted spoon, then drain and cool before adding to this salad.

ABOUT ENGLISH PEAS – Peas have been around since ancient times and are believed to be native to Europe and parts of Asia. According to specialtyproduce.com, peas are from the legume family and are rich in vitamin A and vitamin B (particularly folic acid), calcium, iron, zinc, and potassium. They also contain fiber and protein and can help promote healthy vision.

You may have heard them referred to as 'green peas' 'garden peas' 'shell peas' and 'English peas' as I have done here. 'Sweet Pea' refers to a beautiful flowering plant that is not edible so I'm not sure why green peas are often referred to as sweet. English peas are believed to have been cultivated in England in the early seventeenth century. Other favorite edible pea varieties include snow pea and sugar snap peas.

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A bowl of pea salad with cheese, bacon and topped with a hard cooked egg

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A wonderfully easy, hearty side dish loaded with hard cooked eggs, a little bacon, (because everything's better with bacon) minced red onion, and cheddar cheese all blended together with a creamy dressing.

1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons minced red onion
2 teaspoons apple-cider vinegar
2 teaspoons granulates sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper plus more for garnish if desired
1 teaspoon hot sauce more or less to taste (like Cholula)
2 13-ounce bags of frozen peas, thawed overnight in the refrigerator
2 large hard-boiled eggs chopped (reserve a few slices for garnish if desired)
1/2 cup cheddar cheese cut in 1/4" cubes or shredded
4-6 slices bacon cooked and diced

In a 2-cup measuring cup combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, onion, vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper and hot sauce. Stir until well blended.
In a large mixing bowl using a rubber spatula, gently combine the peas, hard-boiled eggs and cheese. Pour the dressing over the top of the peas and fold together just until well blended.
Refrigerate the salad for 8 hours or overnight. When ready to serve, gently stir the salad and add the chopped bacon. Garnish with additional chopped bacon, cheese and/or sliced eggs if desired. Best served at room temperature.

Optional: Use a flavored bacon such as black pepper or maple for extra zing

I like the Birds' Eye brand of frozen Sweet Garden Peas

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

It is possible that there is bacteria on the frozen peas. If you are concerned, please blanch the peas by dropping them in boiling water and cook / stir for 2-4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon, drain and cool before adding to the salad.

English Peas are versatile and terrific in many recipes.

Sneak some peas into a nice One-pan cheesy potato and green pea casserole and thisCreamy Pasta with Bacon and Peas.

We often add peas to soups, stir fry dishes, stews, casseroles, and of course salads like this Beet, Avocado and Pea Salad which also uses tender pea shoots. Hope you'll give it a try!