Sugar Snap Pea Salad
Sugar snap peas are one of my favorite vegetables. They’re just so crunchy. And sweet.
So it’s no surprise that this salad caught my eye. I whipped up a double batch for a big party we were having. I mixed up the salad and the dressing separately a day in advance and then tossed it all together a couple hours before our guests started to arrive.
I love using radishes in a salad like this. They give a great spiciness that you can’t get from any other ingredient out there. One thing I’d do differently next time is cut back on the goat cheese. When it all got mixed together, the dressing caused the goat cheese to melt some and just coat the peas. I’d prefer it if the peas could shine more on their own without being coated in goat cheese. Don’t get me wrong, I love goat cheese, it was just too much in this case.
If you’re looking for a great salad to take to a cookout this summer, look no further. You can even do like I did and make it in advance. I would just take the dressing in a separate jar and dress it once you arrive at your party.
Two Years Ago: Raspberry Almond Coconut Breakfast Quinoa and Blueberry Crumb Bars
Three Years Ago: San Francisco Trip, Days 1-2 and San Francisco Trip, Days 3-4
Four Years Ago: Goat Cheese Potato Salad
Sugar Snap Pea Salad
Yield: Serves 8-10
Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds sugar snap peas, trimmed, stringed, cut in half on diagonal
Kosher salt
3 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp white wine vinegar
1/2 tsp lemon zest
1 bunch radishes (about 6 ounces), trimmed, thinly sliced
4 ounces crumbled goat cheese
Freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbsp coarsely chopped fresh mint
Directions:
Fill a large bowl with ice water; set aside. Cook peas in a large pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Drain; transfer to bowl with ice water to cool. Drain peas; transfer to a kitchen towel-lined baking sheet to dry.
Whisk oil, lemon juice, vinegar, and lemon zest in a small bowl. Toss peas, radishes, and cheese in a large bowl.
Note - Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover dressing and salad separately and chill.
Add dressing to salad and toss to coat. Season salad with salt, pepper, and more lemon juice, if desired. Garnish with mint and sprinkle with sumac.
Recipe adapted from Bon Appetit
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
Three ingredients? Amazing, I can’t wait to try this for myself!
beantownbaker — February 3rd, 2013 @ 9:42 pm
If you make it, let me know what beer/fruit combo you use. I can’t wait to try different combinations.
I just made it last night and used frozen strawberries and Shock Top Honeycrisp Apple Wheat. Amazing!!! So creamy without any dairy. I’ll be posting the recipe on my site next week.
beantownbaker — February 4th, 2013 @ 9:44 pm
First of all, I haven’t had that beer, but it sounds tasty on it’s own. I’m sure it was delicious with the strawberries in this sorbet. So glad you enjoyed it. Let me know when your post goes up!
what an interesting idea! love that you can still taste the individual flavors 🙂
beantownbaker — February 4th, 2013 @ 9:44 pm
I loved it too. Even though when you say Strawberry and Beer Sorbet people kind of look at you like you’re crazy….
This sounds awesome and I know my husband would love it but we don’t have an ice cream maker. Is there an alternative way to make it?
beantownbaker — February 7th, 2013 @ 6:20 pm
I haven’t made it without an ice cream maker… Here’s an article from David Lebovitz on how to make ice cream without an ice cream maker: http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2007/07/making-ice-crea-1/
Hi there. The current Food on Friday on Carole’s Chatter is collecting links to posts about ice cream and sorbets – or anything similar like gelato. I do hope you link this in. This is the link . Please do check out some of the other links – there are a lot of good ones already. Have a great week.
Jen , thanks for joining the link up for Food on Friday on Carole’s Chatter. I hope you enjoyed looking at some of the other links. I have been reading them all and must say my ice cream cravings are now almost out of control! Cheers
Ps I am signing up to follow your blog. A follow back would be great – or maybe you have already?
I work in a brewpub in Boulder. I’m gonna try this out with fresh peaches, honey, and a strong belgian golden ale. I’ll let you know how it goes.
beantownbaker — August 16th, 2013 @ 8:18 am
Oh man – that sounds awesome. I have a TON of peaches in my house right now… I just made a blueberry variety the other night.