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Creamy Southern Pea Salad

Creamy Southern Pea Salad

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Creamy Southern Pea Salad blends tender-crisp blanched peas with a smooth mayo and sour cream dressing, crispy bacon, and crunchy veggies. The key is blanching peas for exactly 90 seconds and shocking them in ice water to preserve their bright color and firm texture. This no-cook side is perfect for picnics, cookouts, and holiday gatherings.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Southern

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups frozen green peas blanched for 90 seconds and shocked in ice water
  • 0.5 cup red onion diced, soaked in cold water for 10 minutes
  • 0.5 cup celery diced
  • 6 slices bacon thick-cut, cooked until crispy and chopped
  • 0.5 cup mayonnaise full-fat preferred for creaminess
  • 0.5 cup sour cream full-fat for tang and texture
  • 0.5 cup cheddar cheese shredded, sharp cheddar recommended
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 0.5 teaspoon black pepper

Equipment

  • Medium pot to boil water for blanching peas
  • Skillet for cooking bacon
  • Mixing bowl to combine dressing and salad ingredients

Method
 

  1. Bring a medium pot of water to a rolling boil. Add frozen peas and cook for 90 seconds. Drain immediately and plunge peas into a bowl of ice water for 2 minutes. Drain completely and pat dry with paper towels.
    2 cups frozen green peas
  2. Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes, flipping halfway through, until browned and crispy. Drain on paper towels, then chop into small pieces.
    6 slices bacon
  3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, white vinegar, sugar, and black pepper until smooth and combined.
    0.5 cup mayonnaise, 0.5 cup sour cream, 1 tablespoon white vinegar, 1 teaspoon sugar, 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
  4. Add drained peas, diced red onion, diced celery, chopped bacon, and shredded cheddar cheese to the bowl with the dressing. Stir gently until everything is coated evenly.
    2 cups frozen green peas, 0.5 cup red onion, 0.5 cup celery, 6 slices bacon, 0.5 cup cheddar cheese
  5. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour to let flavors meld and the dressing firm up. Stir once before serving.

Notes

  • Drain peas completely after ice bath to prevent watery salad.
  • Cook bacon until crispy but not burnt for the best texture contrast.
  • Chill salad for at least one hour for flavors to meld and dressing to thicken.

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