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.
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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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!
What is Watercress?
Watercress belongs to the same family as kale, Brussels sprouts and cabbage - the cruciferous family. With small, rounded leaves that shoot from long thin stems, watercress is usually grown in waterbeds. So there you have it - the low-down on this veggie.
The flavour of raw watercress is bright and fresh, though more mature plants can become a bit bitter. Its peppery taste is kind of like baby rocket/arugula but not as potent as mustard greens. For the best taste, it's best to enjoy it raw!
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.
You Will Need
How to Make It
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.
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.
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, remove the pit and then cut it into chunks.
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.
Step 2 - Assemble Salad.
Put all the dressing ingredients in a glass jar and shake until emulsified.
Place all the vegetables in a large mixing bowl, pour the dressing over the salad, season with salt and pepper, and toss until the salad ingredients have been coated with the dressing.
Taste the salad and adjust the seasonings according to your taste.
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.
People Also Ask
Sugar snap and snow peas can be enjoyed raw they are nutritious and healthy.
Both sugar snap and snow peas have similar nutrition profiles and are low in starch compared to shelled peas.
Their high vitamin C, vitamin K, and fibre content provide many health benefits, such as lowering the risk of heart disease, controlling blood pressure, and more.
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.
As always, I am going to suggest you use a salad spinner to dry the watercress. it eliminates excess water and won't dilute your dressing.
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).
Recipe Card
Equipment
- Salad Spinner
Ingredients
- 250 grams snow peas (approximately 8.82 ounces)
- 150 grams watercress (approximately 4 cups, 5.29 ounces)
- 1 large avocado (approximately 7.09 ounces 200 grams)
- 2 tablespoons Pepita or Pumpkin Seeds (toasted)
- Sea salt and cracked black pepper
- 5 tablespoons olive oil (virgin or extra virgin)
- 3 ½ tablespoons Chardonnay vinegar (you may substitute with white wine vinegar)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Rinse the snow peas in a colander under cold running water, pat dry. Remove the tips, tails and strings, then cut into julienne. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
- Wash your watercress then spin in a salad spinner to remove excess water. Transfer to your bowl.
- Peel your avocado remove the pit, then cut into a medium dice. Transfer to your bowl.
- Put all the dressing ingredients in a glass jar and shake until emulsified.
- Pour the dressing over the salad, season with salt and pepper, toss until the salad ingredients have been coated with the dressing. Taste the salad and adjust seasonings according to your taste.
- Arrange in a salad bowl and serve immediately.
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