Description
Classic Southern Pea Salad is a creamy, flavorful side dish combining sweet peas, hard-boiled eggs, cheese, and bacon or ham with a tangy dressing made from mayonnaise and sour cream. Perfect for potlucks, picnics, or family dinners, this salad is easy to prepare and served chilled for a refreshing taste of Southern comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 1 (16-ounce) package frozen sweet peas, thawed and uncooked
- 2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
- 4-6 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled, or 1 cup cooked ham, chopped (optional)
- 1/2 cup chopped green onion (or regular onion)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or any kind of cheese)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon celery seeds or 1/2 cup chopped celery
- Dash of cayenne pepper
Dressing Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a salad bowl, mix together the thawed sweet peas, chopped hard-boiled eggs, crumbled bacon or chopped ham if using, chopped green onion, shredded cheddar cheese, black pepper, salt, garlic powder, celery seeds or chopped celery, and a dash of cayenne pepper ensuring all ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Add Dressing: Stir in the mayonnaise and sour cream thoroughly until the salad is well coated and creamy, blending all flavors uniformly.
- Chill the Salad: Cover the salad bowl and refrigerate for a couple of hours to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill properly, enhancing the taste and texture.
- Serve: After chilling, serve the pea salad cold as a delicious side dish. It yields 6 to 8 servings, ideal for gatherings or family meals.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, omit bacon or ham.
- Use freshly chopped celery for a crunchier texture instead of celery seeds.
- Adjust cayenne pepper to taste for mild or spicier salad.
- Make ahead and refrigerate overnight for deeper flavor.
- Can substitute sour cream with Greek yogurt for a tangier and healthier option.
