What is the Difference Between Snow Peas and Sugar Snap Peas?

Snow peas and sugar snap peas look different - snow peas are flatter with small peas inside, while sugar snap peas are rounder. In fact, sugar snaps are a cross between snow and garden peas! Though both have a crunchy texture and are great served raw in salads, sugar snaps have a sweeter flavour. You can use either in this salad! SNOW PEAS - SUGAR SNAP PEAS

Can This Salad Be Made Ahead?

The sugar snap peas and snow peas can be prepared the day before and kept in an airtight container in your fridge (if you keep them in water, it adds to their crispness, and they will curl slightly). Wash and prepare the watercress; make sure that it is completely dry before you store it in an airtight container to prevent any contamination. Make up the dressing in a glass jar several days in advance so that it is ready to shake up and add to the salad just before serving. You may need to bring it to room temperature as sometimes the olive oil will go hard in the fridge. On the day, first, take out the dressing and bring it to room temperature, then drain the peas well and, pat dry, cut the avocado. Then make up the salad as above.

This is a versatile salad that suits all eating styles - Dairy-Free; Gluten-Free; Keto; Low Carb; Nut-Free; Paleo; Vegan; Vegetarian; and Whole30. Double-check that your vinegar and mustard are compliant, as some may contain unsuitable additives. Each of our serves contains approximately 373 kcals and total net carbs of 5 grams. (Please note we use a nutritional database to calculate the nutritional information, and should be considered as an estimate).

Verdant Snow Pea Salad Perfect for Spring

If you’re looking for a fresh and vibrant salad to serve at your next dinner party, look no further than this Snow Pea Salad! It’s the perfect blend of sweet and savoury, crunchy and creamy. Not to mention, it’s beautiful to look at, with its vibrant green hues.

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Snow pea salad on a black plate with peas and watercress on the side.

This Snow Pea Salad is vibrant green and full of crunchy sweet snow peas and mild seeds. We've added creamy avocado for the perfect balance of texture and flavour, some watercress for its peppery brightness, and the subtle Dijon Vinaigrette adds just the right amount of tang. It's an absolute delight.

But for a fresh and crispy salad that is full of crunchy, our Spring Mix Salad is sensational. Or if you are craving the creamy goodness of avocados then try our Avocado Panzanella with its crunchy croutons or purview Watermelon Avocado salad is sooo refreshing!

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Ingredients and Substitutions

Snow Peas - are the key ingredient with their delectable crunch and sweetness. You can switch them out for some sugar snap peas or lightly blanched asparagus, or fresh green beans.
Watercress - added to bulk up this salad and for some bright, peppery flavour. Swap for some baby rocket/arugula, baby spinach or salad greens
Avocado - added for its creamy texture and to boost the satiety of this salad. You can swap for some roasted pumpkin or sweet potato instead. Head over to our Exotic Pumpkin Salad recipe for how to do this.
Pepita or Pumpkin Seeds - used to add some crunch to this salad; any nuts or seeds would work well; try some crushed macadamias, toasted almonds, or pine nuts.
Dressing - we have used a simple oil and vinegar dressing with some Dijon mustard here; it really lifts the salad and adds some delightful tang to the veggies.

Labelled ingredients needed to make a snow pea salad.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1 - String and Cut Snow Peas

Unless you have purchased a stringless variety, the strings for the snow peas should be removed. In all honesty, if you just can't be bothered, it is not the end of the world if you don't!

No need to panic; it's a cinch! Just pinch the stem end of the pod with either your fingers or a knife, then pull the string down towards the other end and just throw the strings away.

Your mature pods may need stringing on both sides, and often you can do this in one go. Cut the stem carefully and pull the strings down from both sides at once.

Then stack a few snow peas on top of each other and cut them julienne style.

CLOSE UP OF SLICING SNOW SNAP PEAS JULIENNE STYLE

Step 2 - Prepare Watercress

Rinse under cold running water in a strainer, and pick the sprigs with leaves off the main stem, discarding the stem as this can be tough and chewy.

Hands picking cress sprigs in kitchen sink.

Pat dry with a towel, or for the best results, spin dry in a salad spinner, as it will allow the dressing to adhere to the leaves without watering it down.

Step 3 - Cut Avocado

Wash your avocado, peel it, an easy way to peel an avocado is to use a large spoon and slide it between the skin and the flesh of the avocado half.

Work from the wide bottom to the top in one movement to remove the whole piece.

SLIDING A SPOON BETWEEN AVOCADO FLESH & SKIN

Remove the pit and then cut it into chunks.

AVOCADO ON WOODEN BOARD DICED WITH RED KNIFE

Step 4 - Assemble Salad

Put all the dressing ingredients in a glass jar and shake until emulsified, place all the vegetables in a large mixing bowl.

Prepared snow pea salad ingredients in a glass bowl.

Pour the dressing over the salad, season with salt and pepper.

Hands pouring dressing over snow pea salad.

Then toss until the salad ingredients have been coated with the dressing. Taste the salad and adjust the seasonings according to your taste.

Tossing snow pea salad in a glass bowl with tongs.

Arrange in a salad bowl and serve immediately.

Serving Suggestions 🍽

Our Snow Pea Salad is perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re hosting a fancy dinner party or just having a casual gathering, this salad is sure to impress your guests.

It makes a perfect accompaniment to a variety of dishes. It can be served with a main course of fish, such as a whole baked salmon or barbecued prawns. Try it with some grilled chicken or as a side dish to a roast.

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