Crunchy Pea Salad
This Crunchy Pea Salad may sound weird but trust me, it’s so good! Peas, peanuts, bacon, celery…all for a refreshing salad.
This Crunchy Pea Salad recipe is a potluck favorite!
CRUNCHY PEA SALAD
Growing up my mother’s closet was always this living organism that had a life of its own. It was either clean as a whistle or so packed with stuff you could hardly get your foot in the door.
Clothes, gifts, food,…you name it, it was in there.
The closet was always on her back burner so if she had time (which having 10 kids hardly allows), she would get to organizing it.
It was her Mount Everest, both symbolically and literally when the piles got out of control.
We all knew she hid chocolate in there so we would often take on the quest to find it but would never come out victorious.
It must be inherited because I have the same struggle with my closet. I just can’t get a handle on it.
And yes, I also have chocolate in mine. I purge it every couple of months so I’m not sure how there’s anything left in there.
Last week I was having a “Does it spark joy?” episode and donated about 30 skirts to Goodwill.
I know that makes me sound like a clothes hoarder…because I am. I still have clothes from high school.
So I know this Crunchy Pea Salad sounds totally crazy and weird but I had to try it after it got rave reviews online.
Peas…I don’t hate them, but I can definitely leave them. The saltiness of the bacon, the crunch of the celery and nuts, the freshness of the peas, and the bite of the onion all work together.
It’s a pleasant surprise. Take my word on this Crunchy Pea Salad! Believe it or not this is best when you toss it together with the frozen peas. Let them thaw slightly before serving but extra cold makes it extra good!
If you love a good crunchy salad you’ll love this Asian Cucumber salad from The Food Charlatan, this Frito Corn Salad or this Broccoli Salad.
Crunchy Pea Salad
Ingredients
- 2-1/2 cups frozen peas (about 13 ounces)
- 1 cup dry roasted peanuts
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 6 bacon strips , cooked and crumbled
- 1/4 cup chopped red onion
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup prepared zesty Italian salad dressing
Instructions
-
In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise and salad dressing and toss with salad. Refrigerate until serving.
Recipe Notes
I really like this when the peas are almost still frozen! Sounds crazy but it gives it extra crunch. I always wait to add the bacon until right before serving because I like it crunchy.
Source: Taste of Home
OH, that really looks like a great salad. And even better, super easy to make. If we don’t go out for dinner on Mother’s Day, my husband bans me from the kitchen. He tells me he’ll make any meal I’d like and tells me to print the recipes out and makes me stay out of the kitchen. It’s hard because my sewing room, where I am every single day, is just steps away from the kitchen so I can hear everything going on in there, including hearing when it’s obvious he’s having trouble. He’s really good at cooking now and I’ve taught him all the tricks about cooking that I already knew since we’ve been together. Even so, I still choose recipes for Mother’s Day that are slightly easier than what I would make myself. Even though I know he can do almost any I’d give him to make, I still try to make it easier on him. This Pea Salad looks like a perfect choice for that day because it’s super easy to mix up. It looks really good too. Thank you.
Yes, he can totally handle this one and he is so sweet to do that for you!
I was with you until I saw FROZEN peas. Can’t stand frozen peas. So, I put a can of peas in the fridge overnight. Made it the next day. YUMMY!!
haha. Good to know!
Yum! Peas are one of my favorite vegetables!
Kari
http://sweetteasweetie.com/organic-roasted-cauliflower-grocery-outlet/
Thanks Kari!
This salad looks so yummy!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
Thank you!
I would put the bacon on the side and put it on each serving so it stays crunchy I’m trying this one.
Oh…I eat the peas frozen too.
Do you have recipe for dressing?
Yes! It’s just the mayo mixed with the italian dressing.
I have a recipe very similar. I use frozen peas, chopped celery, sunflower seeds but the dressing is quite different. You might like to try the dressing as a change. I use 1/2 cup sour cream and 1/2 cup ranch dressing.
thanks! I’ll have to try it!
How far in advance can I make this salad? Bringing it for Easter dinner to my sister’s house. I know I should leave the bacon out until serving but can I make this salad a little earlier in the day and refrigerate until I go?
Yes, you definitely can. I like when the peas are super cold – almost frozen – sounds weird but you can refrigerate also.
I really like this recipe!
A have to make soon.
thanks
Thank you!
Minus the bacon, looks tasty. Will try
Thank you!
My Grandmother use to make a similar salad, she called it 3 pea salad-peas, peanuts and pickles. Never tried it with bacon and it sounds wonderful.
And I’m sitting here thinking the pickles would be great.
Since I do not eat mayonnaise, I used Marie’s Creamy Italian Garlic .Dressing instead and it was delicious. I’ve made this about three times already
Ooh! I love hearing that.
is this the italian dressing that comes in a packet just mixed with the mayo or actual dressing you buy in bottle? TIA going to make with dinner tomorrow night
Ahh! It’s the dressing in the bottle. sorry that wasn’t more clear.
Can you use fresh raw peas
Ooh. I’m not sure. I haven’t tried it.
Crunchy Pea Salad is my favorite food
Just a thought, some of us for various reasons do not eat meat, as in your pea salad recipe. it would be nice if you would do as we have seen other cooks do, suggest something that could be used in place of the bacon. We are always cautious about trying our own substitutes and ruining the recipe. Please give this some thought and help us out on your meat recipes. We would greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance.
My mother made a similar recipe with boiled eggs and cubed cheddar cheese, no meat.
Thanks o much for sharing, This Pea Salad I good, I made it for home coming and it was Great! Loved it.
So glad to hear that!
I like the simplicity of this recipe. I found it needed a splash of lemon juice and some salt and pepper to brighten the flavour. (Maybe my zesty italian dressing wasn’t very zesty) Either way, it was quick to throw together with ingredients on hand. I like it so here’s hoping the rest of my family will too!
Thanks for your feedback.
I bought ingredients to try this out. It wasn’t until I got to the grocery store that I realized there was no specification on which kind of peas are used in you recipe. Do you use sweet peas?
Ooh. Sorry. They are actually the same so either one will work.
You have just solved a 20 yr old mystery for me! A beloved friend brought this salad to a luncheon and I loved it (even though I’m not a big fan of peas)! She passed on before I got her recipe and have been looking to duplicate it for years. Your recipe is it! Can’t thank you enough! So yummy!!!
I know, sounds weird but so good!
Absolutely delicious!
Can I have the nutrition facts for this dish prepared per serving (and serving size)? Thank you!
This sounds awesome! I love peas. Think I will throw in some pickles and hard boiled eggs.
Ooh yum!
I can’t believe how much time I wasted staring at the dry roasted peanuts at the grocery store. So….which is it? Salted or Unsalted? I bought both……and when I make it in the morning I’m sure I’ll agonize then, too! But I have to know what you use!!!
I’m so sorry! You can use either but I would go with salted because…flavor!
This salad is delicious! I added three chopped boiled eggs, and otherwise made the recipe exactly as written. So good!
Sounds great!
I made this for dinner this evening. It’s sooo easy and absolutely delicious! I substituted the peanuts for roasted/salted cashews, added salt & pepper, and garnished each bowl with a little crumbled feta cheese on top. Everyone loved it! Going to try it with pistachios next time… Thank you for the recipe!
You’re welcome. It’s surprisingly good!
Thanks for your comment! I can eat cashews but react to peanuts. I was wondering about that very substitute. It’s great to know it works for those of us with peanut allergies.
Being the single gal ‘Foodie’ that I am …
I still love to cook and often eat the whole recipe, (if I don’t share with friends & neighbors) over several days.
Thus, I made this pea salad as I love all of the ingredients. I did add the bacon & peanuts per serving, allowing the salad to stay crunchy.
I LOVE this salad and did not tire of eating till it was all gone.
Wonderful !
Linda I love hearing that!!
I made the pea salad, but I added some boiled eggs to mine. It also gave a creamy and crunchy side.
I found your recipe and always in the summer time. The 4th of July. OHhhh Thank you for sharing
You’re welcome!
You’re welcome!
I made your salad for an RV potluck. They ate it down to the last pea. Thank you for the recipe.
I forgot to add that I substituted the peanuts for roasted cashews. I don’t tolerate peanuts very well; I was able to keep the nut crunch with cashews.
Cashews would be great.
Awesome!
Made this tonight and was very happy with it! Instead of using the zesty Italian dressing I sprinkled zesty Italian dry mix because I try to cut down on oil. It was so good I’ll be making this again! Thank you!
Great substitution Freida!
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