A super simple, flexible side dish that is perfect for spring, summer, and salad bars is pea salad.
Although there are many, many variations, I like to start with the basic salad bar standard.
From the basic recipe, I can add ingredients to fit the meal and the occasion. Other ingredients that go well in the salad include: onion, celery, pimentos, mint, “baby” shrimp, ham, bacon, and so on.
You can use fresh or frozen peas. Some people even used can peas, but I am so not a fan of canned peas… If using fresh peas, I prefer to quickly blanch them by dipping them in boiling water briefly then quickly dunking them in an ice bath before letting them drain completely to use in the salad.
