Conventional pea salad reaches a brand new stage of deliciousness on this Creamy Lemon Parmesan Pea Salad recipe! The dressing is so unbelievable you’ll need to savor it by itself! This isn’t your mama’s pea salad, my buddies. That is BETTER!
Are the basic elements for a basic pea salad nonetheless included on this recipe? You recognize those: Mayonnaise, bitter cream, cheddar cheese, ham, pink onions, and bacon? Sure, completely! The essential elements are the proper base so as to add extra thrilling flavors!
So what’s the distinction? THE DRESSING!
To the bottom dressing I added: Parmesan. Lemon. Balsamic Vinegar. Garlic. Onion Salt. Dijon Mustard.
You possibly can inform that there’s a pleasant Italian twist to this recipe. Some individuals are shocked to be taught that Italians use mayonnaise in recipes (in reality, many Italians make their very own mayonnaise).
So what’s Pea Salad anyway?
Pea salad is a well-liked old style basic aspect dish recognized for its extremely scrumptious taste, but in addition as a result of it’s tremendous fast and easy to place collectively. I like to organize the entire elements the day earlier than so that every one I’ve to do is combine every little thing collectively when it’s time to get pleasure from it. Prepared in 10 minutes flat!
Pea Salad is likely one of the greatest “chilled” aspect dishes to serve year-round at any gathering, particularly for extra informal get-togethers corresponding to potlucks, luncheons, cookouts, and vacation gatherings. There are countless variations of pea salad recipes, however historically it at all times consists of candy peas, crispy bacon, chunks of ham and cheese, and tangy pink onions in a creamy dressing.
To take this recipe excessive, I add cherry tomatoes, inexperienced peppers, and slivered almonds after which toss every little thing in a tangy lemon Parmesan dressing! Even those that don’t like peas will get pleasure from this refreshing pea salad. It’s at all times an enormous hit each time I serve it.
What Components Do I Want for This Pea Salad?
Listed here are the yummy elements you’ll must create one of the best Creamy Lemon Parmesan Pea Salad ever. You’ll discover the precise measurements within the recipe card that I’ve offered for you under.
- Peas: The primary star of the present, clearly! Use solely frozen (thawed) or contemporary petite-sized spring peas. They’re noticeably sweeter, smaller in dimension, and simply look nicer. Don’t prepare dinner, however quite use and serve uncooked. (It’s tremendous fit for human consumption uncooked peas!) Frozen is your greatest guess for comfort and fantastic candy style! I might eat them straight out of the bag. In the summertime, whereas nonetheless frozen, they’re a pleasant wholesome chilly deal with! DO NOT use canned peas which have a softer texture, even when first opened. They proceed to get even softer within the creamy dressing. And also you don’t need that!
- Pancetta or Bacon: Go heavy on this . . . you’ll be so glad that you just did! Bacon or Italian pancetta provides the proper stage of saltiness to stability the sweetness of the pea salad. What’s higher than bacon? Italian pancetta, my buddies. The flavour is excessive. Attempt to use thick-sliced bacon as a result of it retains its taste and meaty, crunchy texture higher whereas within the moist dressing. Pancetta just isn’t the simplest ingredient to seek out (I purchase mine on-line –> Pancetta). Fry it after which lower it into chunks. We don’t choose crumbles, however quite get pleasure from a great chunk of bacon/pancetta in each chew! Go along with your desire, although. Bacon might be cooked in a microwave oven in case you choose.
- Ham: Chopped up into chunks, ham simply goes superbly with peas! Use both left-over ham or buy sweetened (aka: Honeybaked) ham for one of the best taste. Smoked ham doesn’t style properly on this pea salad.
- Purple (Purple) Onion: I like the flavour and exquisite coloration of pink/purple onions. It provides a sweeter onion taste and numerous visible enchantment with the pop of coloration! If you happen to discover the flavour of pink/purple onion too robust and overpowering and need to cut back the sharp taste of pink/purple onion, I’ve a tip for you: Merely soak the diced onion in chilly water for about 5 minutes and drain to chop down the tanginess. Faucet dry earlier than including to the salad. You can too run chilly water over the onion.
- Cheddar Cheese: Use medium to sharp cheddar for higher taste. Experiment with different cheeses, too, corresponding to Parmesan. Purchase the cheese in a block kind after which lower it into small chunks of equal dimension, round ¼ inch cubes. This manner, the cheese is evenly blended all through the salad. Gouda is one other favourite. Though it’s dearer, it provides extra sophistication to the salad. Smoked Gouda actually packs extra taste than Cheddar and Gouda. As at all times, use no matter cheese you like.
- Italian Parsley and Recent Herbs: It tastes so significantly better than common curly parsley. That explains why it sells out so quick within the retailer! Parsley can also be very wholesome for us and provides a shot of coloration. Additionally add minced chives.
- Cherry Tomatoes – For added coloration and candy taste. Use ripe cherry tomatoes for an additional layer of texture.
- Inexperienced Pepper: Provides one other layer of candy crunchiness. Purple pepper is the sweetest bell pepper and is phenomenal on this salad.
- Slivered Almonds: Add probably the most unbelievable crunchy texture amidst the creaminess of the recipe. A pleasant yin and yang impact on the tastebuds!
- Bitter Cream and Mayonnaise: The proper tangy mixture of creaminess for the bottom of the tasty salad dressing. On sandwiches, we solely use Miracle Whip, however for this pea salad, I like to recommend Dukes or Blue Plate Actual Mayonnaise (from New Orleans).
- Dijon Mustard: Thank the French for this wonderful condiment! Only a tad provides new life to this and any recipe! Mmmm!
- Balsamic Vinegar: This candy, but tangy Italian vinegar makes this pea salad distinctive by substituting it for the common cider vinegar. Just a bit bit goes a great distance. Balsamico is divine in the way it makes any recipe come alive! If you happen to discover Balsamico too tart, then substitute pink wine vinegar, which has a extra fruity taste.
- Parmesan Cheese: The king of Italian cheeses. What it does to the dressing is indescribable! My husband raved about this dressing and that’s actually saying one thing! Parmesan, lemon, and garlic are the “holy trinity” elements within the dressing that take your tastebuds to the moon and again! At all times use freshly grated Parmesan, and keep away from utilizing the pre-grated, powder-like stuff that is available in a can/jar. It has little or no taste and doesn’t mix properly in recipes.
- Lemon Juice and Zest: That is the main focus of this particular Italian pea salad. The tanginess of lemon provides a contact of perfection to the dressing. A should! Keep in mind to clean the skin of the lemons earlier than zesting.
- Sugar – Use only a tad to assist stability out the tangy lemon within the dressing.
- Garlic – A should to jazz up the dressing. Garlic marries with lemon and parmesan completely, too! If you happen to don’t have any contemporary garlic readily available, it’s OK to make use of garlic powder — a couple of half teaspoon per garlic clove.
- Onion Salt and different spices: Mixes in good further taste within the dressing. You can too add garlic powder, nevertheless it’s not needed as a result of this recipe makes use of contemporary garlic, which is significantly better than something from a jar.
- Recent Italian Parsley – At all times use Italian versus the opposite curly sort of parsley. Once more, please use contemporary quite than what is available in a jar for a pleasant infusion of contemporary taste! I at all times have this readily available.
- Optionally available – Ranch Dressing Dry Combine – This provides some additional taste, however go EASY with these things. There’s already an incredible quantity of taste happening with the Parmesan, Lemon, and Garlic within the dressing, so that you don’t need a battle happening. Begin with taking a small bowl of dressing and add a tiny bit of Ranch dressing dry combine, stir, and see what you assume. An excessive amount of taste or battle of taste for you? Don’t use it. Nonetheless, in case you prefer it, add some to the dressing slightly bit at a time till you’re happy.
So “Andiamo a la cucina!” Let’s go to the kitchen!
Start with frying the pancetta or bacon in a frying pan till it’s crispy and has a beautiful reddish-brown coloration! Then, set it apart to make use of later within the pea salad.
Put together and measure all elements (I like to do that the day earlier than, overlaying every with plastic wrap or lids and storing within the fridge to make the pea salad the subsequent day)
- Bacon/ Italian pancetta
- Peas
- Ham chunks
- Cheese chunks
- Purple/purple onion
- Inexperienced pepper chunks
- Cherry tomatoes
- Slivered almonds
- Finely grated Parmesan cheese
- Bitter cream
- Mayonnaise
- Lemon juice
- Lemon zest
- Dijon mustard
- Garlic
- Balsamic vinegar
- Minced Italian parsley
- Onion salt
- Sugar
- Salt and pepper
As soon as every little thing is measured out, you need to begin with the dressing!
Mix all elements for the dressing collectively FIRST! Cowl and chill within the frig whereas getting ready the pea salad, giving time for the entire elements to marry.
Right here’s the place it will get straightforward!
Add the peas, cheddar cheese, inexperienced pepper, ham, and pink onion collectively in a big mixing bowl.
Combine collectively . . . Aren’t the colours simply fabulous?!
Pour ALL of the scrumptious Lemon Parmesan Herb Dressing into the pea combination.
Now gently combine within the cherry tomatoes, bacon/pancetta, and slivered almonds.
I add these on the finish in order that the tomatoes don’t break all the way down to mush, and for the bacon and the almonds to be tremendous crunchy!
And there you may have it!
Creamy Lemon Parmesan Pea Salad
Tricks to Make An Superior Pea Salad
There are a gazillion recipes for pea salad. Everybody has their very own distinctive twist . . . I’m on that bus, that’s for certain! At all times make a recipe that satisfies you and your family members, in case you really feel the recipe wants it. That stated, listed below are some tried and true factors for unbelievable pea salad outcomes:
- Use contemporary or frozen PETITE peas — it’s all in regards to the taste and the feel! Petite peas deliver a sweeter taste to the salad and have a extra delicate crunch than that of the bigger peas with more durable skins. Please don’t use canned peas which can be extraordinarily mushy with little style.
- You possibly can thaw the peas simply within the bag (if frozen) itself whereas setting within the fridge or place them in a colander and run chilly water over them. Personally, I add them to the salad of their frozen state if I’m making this salad forward of time. This makes them way more crunchy when it’s time to serve.
- If you happen to don’t look after dairy, substitute plain Greek yogurt rather than the bitter cream. The flavour distinction isn’t noticeable, and you continue to get the identical desired stage of creaminess.
- Use one of the best, thickest bacon (or Italian pancetta) so the bacon taste is extra highly effective within the creamy salad than skinny bacon which may get misplaced on this salad.
- Add the thick bacon simply earlier than serving, particularly in case you make this salad upfront. Whenever you add it in and let it sit within the salad for an hour or extra, the bacon softens into an undesirable texture.
- For an additional taste burst, add a ½ packet of Ranch dressing (dry) combine.
- At all times have time to relax the salad — This permits the entire elements to return collectively for an OUTSTANDING marriage of flavors.
- Customise any of the salad elements — This salad is extremely VERSATILE. Don’t simply restrict your pea salad to the fundamental elements. Experiment and revel in including different veggies (and even fruits) to the combination! I at all times say to make recipes your individual! Use your creativity and have enjoyable in your kitchen.
How To Retailer Creamy Lemon Parmesan Pea Salad
When you have any of this scrumptious Creamy Lemon Parmesan Pea Salad left over after your gathering, it’s a terrific keeper saved within the fridge for as much as 4 days. The crunchy petite peas maintain up their agency texture, as do the slivered almonds, thickly lower bacon/pancetta, ham, and cheese cubes.
Word that the salad will develop into extra watery as time goes by as a result of the peas and tomatoes launch a few of their liquid. Stir once more earlier than serving, and spoon out any additional liquid.
Retailer your pea salad in a pleasant hermetic container or in a bowl coated with cling wrap.
Don’t freeze. The combination doesn’t rise up properly within the freezing temperature and every little thing seems mushy when thawed out.
Extra Creamy Salads to Take pleasure in!
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Components
Lemon Herb Parmesan Dressing
For the Dressing:
- Put together Lemon Herb Parmesan dressing FIRST, by whisking the entire elements collectively.
- Chill within the fridge for the flavors to marry.
For the Pea Salad
- On medium warmth, prepare dinner the pancetta/bacon till crispy with a pleasant, ruby-brown coloration. Put aside.
- Gently combine collectively the entire elements besides the bacon/pancetta and slivered almonds.
- Pour in ALL of the dressing.
- At this level if you wish to make the salad forward of time, enable the salad to relax within the fridge for 1 – 2 hours earlier than serving (you don’t need the bacon/pancetta or the almonds to get delicate and mushy).
- When able to serve, add the chopped bacon/pancetta and slivered almonds, gently mixing them in.
- Serve chilly.
- Buon Appetito!!
xo (baci),
Roz
First posted on April 14, 2024 and revised April 13, 2025
