This creamy pea salad recipe is easy to make (using frozen peas - or even canned or fresh!) and it's full of flavour. It's a delicious side dish for all seasons and sure to be your new favourite salad.
Just when I think I’m getting into my healthy parenting stride, the kids go and surprise me.
Yesterday my son announced that he’s gone off red pepper. Until the day before, it was his favourite vegetable, but suddenly it’s received with a look of disgust. My daughter is now refusing her beloved cucumber.
I’ve also discovered that they don’t want to eat raw carrots anymore, because they take too long to chew. I despair. These kids are more changeable than the weather.
I think it’s all my fault though. Knowing that they were their veggies of choice, I made sure to always have a steady supply in the fridge, ready for snacks, packed lunches, raw veggies and hummus trays at dinner. Sure, I included other fruit and veg, but I always had my trusty standbys. And now they’re bored of them. Oops.
In a bid to keep a wider rotation of vegetables, lately I’ve been exploring hearty salads.
This creamy pea salad is my recreation of one that I often had growing up. It’s a nice mild way to introduce a variety of herbs, and I’ve lightened the mayo dressing by using half Greek yogurt. It only takes a few minutes to throw it all together, plus the frozen peas will keep it cool in picnics or packed lunches and slowly thaw until it’s time to down pencils and eat.
Creamy Pea Salad
Pea salad is popular dish from the southern United States. Typically it also includes crispy bacon or even ham. My version is obviously vegetarian but you could also easily make it vegan. It's also often called English pea salad.
This salad uses frozen peas (you could also use fresh) which makes it a really handy dish to make, with just a few simple ingredients.
It's a perfect side dish at a barbecue, or for any meal year-round. Think sweet peas, creamy dressing, fresh vibrant herbs, sharp red onion and cubes of flavourful cheese... it's absolutely delicious and so easy to make!
This salad is perfect to take on picnics, as the peas keep it cool and slowly thaw until you’re ready to eat it.
What's in pea salad?
Fresh or frozen peas
Mayonnaise (or dairy free mayo)
Greek yogurt
Apple cider vinegar
Red onion
Cheese cubes (optional)
Fresh herbs (I used dill, parsley and mint)
How to make Pea Salad
This pea salad is so easy to make!
- Mix the mayo, yogurt and vinegar together in a large bowl.
- Add the chopped herbs, frozen peas, cheese and onion and give it a really good mix.
- Cover and chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
- Enjoy!
Cook's Tips:
- Chill the salad for at least 2 hours to really let the flavours mingle.
- Give the salad a good stir before serving.
- If necessary stir another tablespoon of yogurt through it to loosen.
- Serve on a it's own or on a bed of spinach with more chopped herbs.
- If you don't like frozen peas, try canned or fresh.
- Don't like peas at all? Try it with corn!
- For non-veggies, a traditional way to serve pea salad is with some chopped crispy bacon.
- Make it vegan: swap to dairy free mayo, yogurt and cheese.
- Make it gluten free: it naturally is gluten free.
Other delicious salad recipes
Try some of my other tasty salad recipes! They're all perfect veg-packed accompaniments to any meal (or indeed a meal in themselves!)
Broccoli salad (with potatoes and herbs)
Brazilian Gaucho Potato Salad (with apple, carrot and and delicious dressing)
Mexican Grilled Chipotle Salad in Tortilla Bowls
Sauteed Butter Bean Salad
What to serve with Pea Salad
This delicious salad would be perfect alongside:
Sweet Potato Frittata
Lentil Carrot Hot Dogs (vegan)
Mini Beet Burgers
15 minute Bean Burgers
Pea Spinach Burgers
Why not finish the meal with a bright green, three layer Vanilla Pea Cake with Lemon Icing? Trust me, it's so tasty. You can't taste the peas, but they leave a lovely sweetness and that fabulous green colour.
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Get the Pea Salad Recipe
Thanks for checking out my recipe! I love hearing from my readers. You all allow me to do what I love and write this UK food blog, sharing vegetarian and vegan recipes, vegetable cake recipes and also easy vegan desserts.
Kate x
📖 Recipe
Creamy Herb Pea Salad
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 4 tablespoon plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or white vinegar or lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
- ½ tablespoon fresh mint chopped
- ½ tablespoon fresh dill chopped
- salt and pepper
- 400 g frozen peas (don’t thaw) canned or fresh peas work too!
- 125 g cheddar cheese cut into small cubes
- ¼ red onion finely sliced
To garnish
- Additional chopped herbs
Instructions
- Mix the mayonnaise, yogurt and vinegar together in a large bowl. Stir in the chopped herbs and season with the salt and pepper.
- Add the frozen peas, cheese and onion, then gently mix. Cover and chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
- Stir before serving, if necessary stir another tablespoon of yogurt through it to loosen, then sprinkle with some more herbs.
Notes
- Chill the salad for at least 2 hours to really let the flavours mingle.
- Give the salad a good stir before serving.
- If necessary stir another tablespoon of yogurt through it to loosen.
- Make it vegan: swap to dairy free mayo, yogurt and cheese.
- Make it gluten free: this pea salad is naturally is gluten free.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Katie
I made this tonight & it was delicious!! First time having pea salad, & I’m definitely a fan! 😃
Helen of Fuss Free Flavours
I really like the idea of your pea salad. Using Greek yogurt in the dressing is a favourite of mine too, much prefer the flavour it gives.
Angela
Hi, I had everything in the fridge and freezer for this, so I made it last night for tea (with fish fingers). I didn't have any dill, but it was really good with the other herbs. Best thing is that my son liked it. He picked out the onion but loved the cheese with the peas and called it cheesy peas.
Crystal
I've never heard of anything like this before but it looks like its worth a try.
Kirsty
Kids can ve very funny with foods can’t they, I have this with my toddler who is obsessed with one particular food one day and doesn’t it the next. I love the sound of th speak salad it sounds reefreshing and light
Rebecca Smith
What a delicious idea for a side dish - we love peas in our house so this salad would go down a treat!
Choclette
Not like peas? Is there such a thing? Love the idea of taking this on a picnic using frozen peas. We had a picnic just this weekend as it was so balmy, but I'm feeling we might have to wait for a bit now.
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche
Yum! I love those little cheese cubes in there to make it feel like a real treat. Looks like a great way to get your veg in!
MELANIE EDJOURIAN
I'm not sure if I have ever tried pea salad before. It sounds interesting and nice and healthy too.
Ellen
I love pea salad but never make it. I need to! It's the perfect picnic food!
Claudia Lamascolo
I think I could eat this whole dish .. I love peas and this creamy style makes my mouth water!
kim
I love a good pea salad, especially with the addition of dill! Adding this to the weekly menu!
Danielle Wolter
I have never heard of this before! I absolutely love the idea. What a great recipe - totally trying.
Leslie
I was immediately drawn to this when I saw the chopped herbs. Fresh herbs are such a great way to brighten a simple dish. Looks delish!
Ceri Jones
This is great becuase I always have frozen peas in the freezer (and usually an onion lurking somewhere too). I love that the Americans can call them English peas, but over here they are just pease!
Christina
What a great easy salad! I'll be making this for lunch this week!
Jennifer Farley
The flavors in this are absolutely incredible!!
Heidy L. McCallum
This recipe is fabulous, we make something very similar in the South and I love it--- I am betting odds I would devour your recipe as well my friend. Hope you made a double batch!
PS tell the children I will be happy to eat all the lovely veggies you cook!!! They all sound amazing.
Good Day
Heidy
Wajeeha
Your photography is gorgeous! And I love pea salad, and yours looks so creamy and I love the addition of cheese cubes too! 🙂
Sues
This looks seriously incredible and there's no way anyone could get sick of it! Especially with that added cheese 🙂 I could make a full meal out of this!
Carissa Shaw
Yum! I need to make this as a side for holiday dinners this year! It's so pretty too.
Kelly Anthony
This is the perfect salad to take to a picnic. Love that the frozen peas will thaw while the kids are playing.