There are two kinds of sugar snaps peas (also called mangetout): good ones, and disappointing ones. Good ones are sweet and crunchy and not fibrous and the peas inside are as fresh and sweet (again with the sweet) as the pods. Disappointing sugar snap peas are not all of these things. Look for firm, plump non-cracked pods with no dry spots, and taste a couple before buying.
How to Prepare Sugar Snap Peas for Salad
You can make this salad with raw sugar snap peas, or if they aren’t absolutely young and perfect, a quick blanching makes them amazing. Blanching simply involves bringing a pot of salted water to a boil, dumping the sugar snaps in the water for 60 seconds, then draining them and plunging them into a bowl of ice water you have at the ready. When the peas are cool, they are ready to be drained and eaten or used in a recipe.
I like to cut the sugar snap peas in half crosswise, so each piece is bite-sized. If you happen to find very small sugar snaps peas you can leave them whole.
Is is Safe to Eat Sugar Snap Peas Raw?
Yes! They are best to eat raw when they are very young, fairly small, and very fresh. Sugar snap peas are very nutritious and have lots of fiber, so don’t overdo it with the raw ones; too many can sauce stomach distress. This salad mixed sugar snap peas with cucumber so even people with fiber sensitivities should be ok.
Trimming Sugar Snap Peas
If your sugar snap peas are young and don’t have a thick string running down the side of them, you can just trim off the tips on both edges, cutting off just the very end to keep as much of the bean intact as possible. If they are more mature they may have a string running down one or both sides of the bean, where the halves are joined, and that should be removed by peeling it off as you remove the tips. Find a child or helpful guest or family member to help you with this slightly tedious but sometimes necessary task.
Fresh Herbs
I like to tear the herbs for this salad, just ripping them into chunks and leave them in larger pieces. You can roughly chop them if you prefer. You could also finely chop them, if that’s your preference, but I like the burst of fresh flavor larger bits of herbs lend to the dish.
I used dill and mint, but play around with other herbs if you like, such as basil. Chervil would also be lovely. And yes, there are a lot of fresh herbs in this recipe; they are not just a supporting ingredient but a true part of the salad.
Sugar Snap Pea Salad Recipe: A pretty and fresh salad that takes minutes to put together, and brightens up any meal.
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Make Ahead Sugar Snap Pea Salad
You can make this up to two days ahead of time, and store it well sealed in the refrigerator.
What to Serve with Sugar Snap Pea Salad:
- Alaska Rockfish Tacos
- Citrus Basil Shrimp Kebabs
- Grilled Salmon
- Chicken With White Wine, Leek, Spinach, and Arugula Pan Sauce
- Rib Eye Steaks with Thyme-Garlic Butter
- Grilled Chicken Breasts
Other Spring Salad Recipes:
- Light Green Crunchy Salad
- Mixed Greens with Pomegranate Vinaigrette
- Romaine and Slivered Kale Salad with Lemon Dressing
- Spinach, Radish, and Kohlrabi Salad with Preserved Lemons
- Tomato, Red Onion, Watercress, Feta and Olive Salad
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Sugar Snap Pea Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound sugar snap peas trimmed and halved crosswise
- 1 red or yellow onion halved and very thinly sliced
- 3 baby cucumbers thinly sliced
- ¼ cup torn or roughly chopped fresh dill
- ¼ cup torn or roughly chopped fresh mint
For the Vinaigrette:
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 small shallot minced
- Kosher or coarse salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Directions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Fill a large bowl with ice water. When the water is boiling, drop the sugar snaps into the pot and cook for 1 minute. Drain the sugar snap peas and plunge them into the ice water.
- While you are waiting for the water to boil, make the vinaigrette: In a large bowl combine the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, rice vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, shallot, salt and pepper.
- Drain the cooled sugar snap peas, shake off any excess water, and add them with the onion, cucumbers, dill and mint to the dressing in the bowl. Toss to combine. Taste, adjust seasonings as needed and serve.
Nutrition Information
The nutrition values are provided as an estimate. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a qualified healthcare professional.
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I agree with Kara, I was so impressed! I added some thinly sliced radish, parmesan, pepperoncini, and chickpea pasta (for protein). It was crunchy and bright.
Very bright fresh and tasty!