A healthy spruced-up version of classic Pea Salad tossed in a creamy Greek yogurt dressing with lots of fresh herbs and smoked cheese. Tangy, delicious, and made in one bowl in about 20 minutes! Vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan-adaptable!
Speak your truth even if your voice shakes.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
This Pea Salad is such a snap to make! We go for quick and easy with frozen peas (but feel free to use fresh-shelled peas if available) and leave out the mayo. Diced celery and red onion give a crunchy texture and a fresh bite.
Peas combine with almost any fresh herb; we love the combination of fresh tarragon, Italian parsley and fresh mint. But you can swap these out with what sounds good to you. Smoked cheddar cheese gives the salad depth and backbone. It’s the perfect side dish for summer gatherings and potlucks! Check out this Chopped Salad for another fresh, healthy and delicious salad recipe!
Table of Contents
Why You Will Love Pea Salad!
- It is simple & easy! Have it together in about 20 minutes!
- It’s vegetarian! We use smoked cheddar to give it “bacon flavor”.
- It’s lightened up! Instead of using mayonnaise or sour cream in the pea salad dressing, we use Greek yogurt for a creamy base and tangy flavor.
- So tasty with perfect textures! Creamy, crunchy, herby, and fresh.
- Adaptable- switch out ingredients for what you have on hand.
Pea Salad Ingredients
Pea Salad Ingredient Notes
- Peas – frozen petite peas work great here. But if you have access to fresh, that would taste amazing! Peas are so good for us- full of fiber, protein, and vitamin A, vitamin K and vitamin C
- Greek yogurt – thick, creamy, nutritious Greek yogurt works so well for creamy dressings.
- Red onions – the bite of red onion gives a perfect compliment to the sweet peas. Green onions or sweet onions could work for a more mild flavor.
- Celery – the salad really benefits from the crunchy, juicy celery bits, creating texture. Diced fennel could work too!
- Smoked cheese – smoked cheddar cheese is so lovely here. Smoked gouda, smoked mozzarella, and smoked goat cheddar would all be great. Smoked Vegan cheese if you prefer!
- Herbs – Tarragon, parsley, mint. Swap out for basil, chives, dill, lemon thyme…
- Optional Ingredients: smoked salmon, hard-boiled eggs, vegan bacon or turkey bacon.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
How To Make Pea Salad
STEP ONE- In a large bowl, stir together Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, and a pinch of cayenne pepper.
STEP TWO- To the same bowl, on top of the dressing, add diced onions, celery, cheese, tarragon, parsley, mint, and peas. Mix thoroughly. Chill until ready to eat.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
What To Serve With Pea Salad
Pea salad is a delicious side dish to summer gatherings and potlucks. It pairs with so many things! Serve it up with salmon, grilled chicken, grilled tofu, or skewers!
Pea Salad FAQS
Yes, keep it in the fridge and serve chilled! Keeps for about 3 days.
Peas, red onion, cheese cubes (smoked), celery, fresh parsley, mint and tarragon tossed in a creamy Greek yogurt dressing (skipping the traditional mayo).
It can be! We make ours vegetarian, skipping the mayo and bacon. Flavor comes from fresh herbs, smoked cheese, crunchy celery bits, and red onion. Greek yogurt dressing boosts nutrition without sacrificing deliciousness!
More Favorite Pea Recipes!
- Korean Cucumber Salad
- Dilly Cucumber Tomato Salad
- Spring Salad
- Raw Beet Salad with Basil Cashew Dressing
This salad gives me such fond memories of my grandma’s delicious creamy Pea Salad. I think she would love this new healthy version!
Hope you enjoy and let us know what you think!
Love this recipe? Please let us know in the comments and leave a 5-star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below the recipe card.
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Pea Salad Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 cups 1x
- Category: salad, side dish
- Method: stirred
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A healthy spruced-up version of classic Pea Salad tossed in a creamy Greek yogurt dressing with lots of fresh herbs and smoked cheddar cheese. Tangy, delicious and all made in one bowl in about 20 minutes! Vegetarian, Vegan adaptable.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt (or use vegan yogurt)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- pinch of cayenne (optional)
- 1/4 cup red onions, diced
- 1/2 cup celery, about 2 stalks, diced
- 1/2 cup smoked cheddar cheese, cut into small cubes (or swap out other smoked hard cheese, or vegan cheese)
- 1/2 cup fresh tarragon and parsley mixed
- 1/4 cup fresh mint
- 2 cups peas, petite frozen and thawed (quick thaw by running cool water over the frozen peas in a colander) or use blanched fresh peas.
Instructions
- Mix together yogurt, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper and a pinch of cayenne in a bowl.
- Add in diced onions, celery, cheese, tarragon, parsley, mint and peas.
- Mix thoroughly. Add more salt, pepper, cayenne and vinegar to taste if needed.
- Chill until ready to serve- this salad is best served cold!
Notes
Optional Ingredients: smoked salmon, hard-boiled eggs, vegan bacon or turkey bacon.
Leftovers keep for 3 days. The peas will be at their most vibrant when serving the same day you make it.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 112
- Sugar: 2.8 g
- Sodium: 181.3 mg
- Fat: 7.4 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 6.6 g
- Fiber: 1.9 g
- Protein: 5.5 g
- Cholesterol: 10.5 mg
Tonia& Sylvia,
Simply so delicious!
I will definitely make again!
Thank you for another bright& yummy salad!
So happy to hear this Suzan!
I loved this pea salad!
We love it too- happy you gave it a go!
Really lovely recipie, definitely improves with chilling, and really good the next day.
Passed the recipie on to several friends.
Thanks Hilary, great to hear!