Description
Creamy pea and cheese delight salad blends Mediterranean flavors with fresh garden ingredients. Crisp vegetables and tangy cheese create a refreshing summer dish you’ll savor with pure culinary joy.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (907 g) peas, fresh shelled or frozen (16 oz or 454 g packages), thawed and well drained
- ¼ cup (30 g) cheddar cheese, shredded
- ¼ cup (60 ml) Greek yogurt, plain
- ¼ cup (60 ml) mayonnaise
- ½ medium yellow bell pepper, finely chopped (about ½ cup)
- 1 tbsp dried basil
- 1 tbsp red onion, finely diced
- 1 tsp sugar
- ½ tsp seasoned salt (Lawry’s brand)
- ½ tsp apple cider vinegar
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- 2 tsp pimentos, diced
Instructions
- Dressing Preparation: Whisk mayonnaise, yogurt, apple cider vinegar, dried basil, sugar, garlic powder, seasoned salt, and black pepper in a large mixing bowl until smooth and thoroughly blended.
- Flavor Infusion: Fold in yellow bell pepper, Cheddar cheese, red onion, and pimentos, ensuring each ingredient is evenly coated with the creamy dressing.
- Pea Integration: Gently incorporate frozen peas into the mixture, carefully distributing them throughout the salad while maintaining their delicate texture.
- Chilling and Marinating: Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least four hours, allowing the flavors to meld and develop a rich, harmonious profile.
- Serving Preparation: Before serving, give the salad a gentle stir to reawaken the ingredients and ensure an even distribution of the vibrant dressing.
Notes
- Chill for Maximum Flavor: Refrigerate the salad for at least 4 hours to allow ingredients to marinate and develop a deeper, more complex taste profile.
- Prevent Pea Mushiness: Use frozen peas directly from the freezer and fold gently to maintain their crisp texture and bright green color.
- Customize Cheese Selection: Experiment with different cheese varieties like sharp Cheddar, mild mozzarella, or tangy feta to personalize the salad’s flavor.
- Dressing Consistency Tip: Whisk dressing ingredients thoroughly to create a smooth, creamy base that evenly coats all ingredients without clumping.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 135
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg