Sugar Snap Pea Salad Recipe

Yahoo Food

Every week, we’re spotlighting a different food blogger who’s shaking up the blogosphere with tempting recipes and knockout photography. Here, actress Ali Larter shares a fresh sugar snap pea salad perfect for hot summer night garden parties.

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Photo courtesy of Ali Larter

Sugar Snap Pea Salad
Serves 8

Sugar snap peas top the list of vegetables I reach for when the weather heats up. Their crisp, slightly sweet bite is as refreshing as it is healthy — irresistible in a number of dishes. One of my favorite ways to serve the little green guys in in this sugar snap pea salad. The balance of the sweetly aromatic mint with the savory shallot dressing produces a simple, sophisticated dish to smile about any time of day.

2 pounds sugar snap peas, strings removed
Ice cubes
½ cup mint leaves, very thinly sliced
Edible flowers (optional)
Vinaigrette, to taste (recipe below)

Fill a large bowl with water and ice cubes and place close to the stove. Steam the snap peas in a steamer set over boiling water just until the peas are crisp-tender but still bright green, 1 to 2 minutes. Immediately plunge the snap peas into the bowl with the ice water for 1 to 2 minutes to stop the cooking. Drain well. Add the snap peas to another bowl with the vinaigrette and toss to coat. Transfer the pea mixture to a serving bowl. Sprinkle the mint over the snap peas. Garnish with optional edible flowers and a light sprinkling of flaked salt, if desired, and serve.

Shallot Vinaigrette

5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon minced shallot
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
½ teaspoon agave syrup
½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
¼ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl or mason jar. Whisk or shake vigorously until emulsified.

More fresh summer salads:

Spinach and Strawberry Salad Recipe from ‘Root to Leaf’

Tomato and Sweet Onion Salad from ‘Rose Water and Orange Blossoms’

Mixed Herb Salad with Honey-Lemon Dressing

Have a favorite salad for summer? Share it below!