Description
This Irish Pea Salad is a creamy, flavorful dish featuring tender peas, crispy bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, and a tangy dressing made with mayonnaise, sour cream, and apple cider vinegar. Perfect for potlucks, picnics, or as a vibrant side dish, it’s best served chilled to allow the flavors to blend beautifully.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 3 cups frozen peas (thawed)
- 1/2 cup cooked and crumbled bacon (about 6 slices)
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
Dressing
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients: Cook the bacon until crispy, then crumble it into small pieces. Thaw the frozen peas by letting them sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes or by rinsing them in cold water and draining well. Finely chop the red onion and shred the sharp cheddar cheese.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large mixing bowl, combine the thawed peas, crumbled bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, and chopped red onion.
- Add the Dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the pea mixture. Gently toss everything together until the ingredients are evenly coated with the creamy dressing. Taste and add more salt or pepper, if needed.
- Chill: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill thoroughly.
- Serve: Before serving, garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a burst of color and freshness. Enjoy your creamy, delicious Irish Pea Salad!
Notes
- For crispier bacon, cook it in the oven on a baking sheet lined with foil at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes.
- Make sure peas are well drained after thawing to prevent the salad from becoming watery.
- This salad can be prepared a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator for deeper flavor.
- To keep the salad vegetarian, simply omit the bacon and add toasted nuts or seeds for crunch.
- Adjust the amount of sugar in the dressing according to your taste preference.
