A celebration of basic ingredients working in perfect harmony, classic pea salad is more than just a recipe. It’s the type of meal that brings back fond memories of potluck spreads, family get-togethers, Easter brunches, and summer picnics. The combination of the crunchy bacon, sharp cheese, creamy dressing, and naturally sweet peas makes this salad both nostalgic and pleasantly cool. Its balance is what makes it so lovely: savoury with a touch of sweetness, light but creamy, and incredibly customisable yet traditional.
The dressing, the foundation of any great Classic Pea Salad, is surprisingly flavourful despite its simplicity. To begin, in a large mixing bowl, combine ½ cup of sour cream and ½ cup of mayonnaise. While the mayonnaise gives depth and richness, the sour cream offers a nice acidity and helps lighten the texture. The dressing’s base is made up of this creamy combination.
After that, add 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar, just enough to bring out the peas’ inherent sweetness and balance the saltiness of the cheese and bacon. Stir in 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar for a crunchy, somewhat acidic boost. This component keeps the salad’s creaminess from becoming overly thick while also enhancing its freshness. Add ½ teaspoon of salt to the dressing to give it a slight savoury undertone. The flavours can build organically without being overpowering if you start here, but you can adjust the salt to taste later.
When everything is well-combined and seamless, it’s time to introduce the main characters. Start by thoroughly thawing and draining 4 cups of frozen peas. This dish is ideal for frozen peas because, even after dressing and chilling, they maintain their vibrant colour and slightly firm texture. They should be just hard enough to bite through, but not so cold as to be frozen, and definitely not cooked. Sweet and juicy, the peas provide the ideal foundation for the strong flavours that follow.
Then, add eight pieces of crispy bacon, broken up into little pieces. With the soft peas and creamy sauce, the bacon’s smoky, salty crunch creates a lovely contrast. After being combined with the dressing and refrigerated, the bacon will soften a little, thus it’s crucial to cook it until it’s really crisp. Before crushing the cooked bacon into the dish, allow it to drain on paper towels to remove any excess grease for optimal results.
Add ½ finely chopped medium red onion and fold. To help cut through the salad’s richness, red onion offers a little bite and sharpness. Chop it finely so that it disperses uniformly and doesn’t overwhelm any single mouthful. You can soften the taste of raw onions while maintaining their crunch by soaking the chopped pieces in cold water for ten minutes or so before adding them to the salad if you’re sensitive to their sharpness.
Add 1½ cups of uniformly diced cheddar cheese to the salad to complete it. The dish gains creaminess, savouriness, and a little weight from the cheese. The best cheese for this is a sharp cheddar because it can withstand the dressing and tastes great with the bacon and peas. The cubes should be cut tiny enough to blend in nicely with the salad without overpowering the other elements.
Add all ingredients to the bowl and toss gently until all ingredients are coated with the creamy dressing. The peas should be whole and intact for the greatest texture, so be careful not to crush them. After everything is well combined, cover the dish and chill the salad for at least one hour before serving. This chilling period is essential. It enables the dressing to somewhat solidify and the flavours to blend, giving the salad its distinctive flavour and texture. You can even make it the night before or a few hours in advance; many people believe that the flavour gets better with time.
Stir the salad gently and taste for seasoning right before serving. If necessary, brighten it with a splash of vinegar or a bit of more salt. Top with additional bacon crumbles for a garnish and a little more crunch and flair. It accentuates the savoury, smokey flavour that makes this meal so enticing and adds visual attractiveness.
Classic Pea Salad is more than just its components. It is a recipe that appeals to all age groups; it is simple enough for a weeknight supper yet elegant enough for a holiday table. It is appealing because of the contrast of flavours and textures: the richness of the cheese, the sharpness of the onion, the sweetness of the peas, the crispness of the bacon, and the creaminess of the dressing. These ingredients work together to provide a salad that is both refreshing and comforting, appropriate for both a festive brunch and a backyard barbecue. Classic Pea Salad serves as a timeless reminder that often the most straightforward dishes make the biggest impressions, whether you’re making it for the first time or continuing a family tradition.
