Lemon Juice: Zesty citrus element that provides tangy brightness and helps balance the dish's flavors.
Olive Oil: Smooth, fruity base for vinaigrette that enhances overall taste and adds silky texture.
Salt: Essential seasoning that amplifies and harmonizes the ingredients' natural tastes.
Black Pepper: Warm, slightly spicy condiment that adds depth and complexity to the salad's profile.
Ina Garten’s Must-Have Tools for Making Pea Salad with Manchego
Medium saucepan: Perfect for boiling peas with precision and control.
Large bowl: Essential for creating an ice bath to stop the cooking process quickly.
Small measuring cup: Ideal for whisking and emulsifying the vinaigrette smoothly.
Serving bowl: Provides a beautiful presentation space for mixing and serving the salad.
Whisk: Crucial for blending vinaigrette ingredients into a silky consistency.
Sharp knife: Needed for julienning mint leaves and shaving Manchego cheese.
Cutting board: Provides a stable surface for chopping and slicing ingredients.
Making Ina’s Fresh Pea Salad in Just a Few Steps
Vibrant Pea Symphony
Pea Preparation Water transforms into a culinary stage where green peas dance briefly, creating crisp-tender magic. Ice bath awaits to halt cooking, preserving their vibrant emerald essence.
Herbal Whispers Fresh mint ribbons weave through tender peas, creating a fragrant landscape of green textures and delicate flavors.
Zesty Elixir Lemon juice and olive oil swirl together, creating a silky vinaigrette that will embrace each pea with bright, tangy warmth.
Flavor Fusion Vinaigrette cascades gently over the peas, coating each morsel with delicate seasoning. Gentle tossing ensures every bite is perfectly dressed.
Cheese Finale Delicate Manchego shavings float atop the salad, adding creamy sophistication and subtle nutty undertones to the verdant composition.
Serving Celebration Taste and adjust, then present this cool, refreshing salad either chilled or at room temperature – a flexible culinary gem ready to delight.
Flavor Hacks for Pea, Mint & Manchego Salad by Ina Garten
Select the freshest green and sugar snap peas possible for maximum crunch and sweet flavor. Farmers markets offer the best seasonal produce for this recipe.
Replace Manchego with other hard sheep's milk cheeses like pecorino or aged parmesan if unavailable. Grate or shave the cheese thinly for delicate texture.
Watch peas closely during boiling to prevent overcooking. Keep them bright green and crisp by timing precisely and using immediate ice bath.
Experiment with different fresh herbs like basil, parsley, or chervil instead of mint. Each herb will create a unique flavor profile for the salad.
Prepare vinaigrette and blanch peas up to one day in advance. Store separately in refrigerator and combine just before serving to maintain peak freshness and texture.
Pea Salad Presentation Tips the Ina Way
Refresh Your Plate: Vibrant Serving Suggestions for Pea Salad
Pair with Protein: Serve alongside grilled chicken breast or seared salmon for a light and elegant main course that highlights the salad's fresh mint and tangy vinaigrette.
Summer Picnic Star: Pack this colorful salad in a portable container for outdoor gatherings, making it a cool and refreshing side dish that stands out at barbecues or potlucks.
Elegant Appetizer Twist: Present the salad in small appetizer glasses or on individual salad plates for an upscale dinner party starter that looks as good as it tastes.
Brunch Companion: Complement weekend brunch spreads by adding this bright, zesty salad next to quiches, frittatas, or egg dishes for a fresh and sophisticated touch.
How to Keep Ina Garten’s Pea Salad Fresh
Refrigerate Wisely: Store the fresh pea salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Keep the Manchego cheese intact and maintain the crisp texture of the peas.
Separate Dressing Strategy: If preparing ahead, keep the vinaigrette in a separate sealed container. Add the dressing just before serving to prevent the peas from becoming soggy and maintain their vibrant green color.
Quick Mint Maintenance: Wrap fresh mint leaves in slightly damp paper towels inside a sealed plastic bag to retain their brightness and prevent wilting when storing in the refrigerator.
Bring to Perfect Temperature: Remove the salad from the refrigerator 15-20 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to develop and the cheese to soften slightly, enhancing the overall taste experience.
Fresh pea salad with mint & manchego celebrates spring’s bounty with crisp vegetables and sharp cheese. Gardeners and home cooks will appreciate this simple, elegant dish showcasing seasonal ingredients from local markets.
2 cups / 300g freshly shelled green peas (from 2 lbs / 900g in the pod)
6 oz / 170g Manchego cheese, shaved with a vegetable peeler
⅔ cup / 30g fresh mint leaves, julienned
½ cup / 120ml good olive oil
6 tbsps / 90ml freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 to 3 lemons)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
Boiling Preparation: Fill a medium saucepan with water, generously salt, and bring to a vigorous boil while simultaneously creating an ice bath in a large bowl to immediately halt cooking.
Pea Blanching: Immerse green peas in boiling water for 3-4 minutes until achieving a crisp-tender consistency, then swiftly transfer to ice water to arrest further cooking and preserve vibrant color.
Ingredient Combination: Drain peas thoroughly, then combine in a spacious serving bowl with sugar snap peas and finely chopped mint leaves, gently mixing to ensure even distribution of ingredients.
Vinaigrette Creation: Whisk lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, salt, and black pepper in a small measuring cup until smoothly emulsified, creating a bright and zesty dressing.
Seasoning and Dressing: Drizzle vinaigrette over the vegetable mixture, carefully tossing to coat ingredients lightly without saturating them, then sprinkle additional salt and pepper to enhance flavor profile.
Cheese Incorporation: Delicately fold shaved Manchego cheese into the salad, maintaining its elegant, thin structure and ensuring gentle integration with the other ingredients.
Final Touch: Conduct a taste assessment, make any necessary seasoning adjustments, and serve the salad either chilled or at room temperature to showcase its fresh, vibrant character.
Notes
Blanch with Precision: Cook peas exactly 3-4 minutes to achieve crisp-tender texture without losing vibrant green color or nutritional value.
Chill Quickly: Immediately transfer peas to ice bath to stop cooking process, preserving their bright color and preventing mushiness.
Balance Vinaigrette Carefully: Use minimal dressing to enhance, not overpower, the delicate pea and mint flavors.
Cheese Technique: Shave Manchego cheese thinly to distribute subtle nutty flavor throughout the salad without clumping.
Degree: Associate of Applied Science in Baking and Pastry Arts
Focus: Techniques in baking, pastry creation, and dessert presentation.
San Antonio Culinary Institute
Program: Diploma in Farm-to-Table Culinary Practices
Focus: Emphasis on utilizing locally sourced ingredients and understanding seasonal flavors.
Sophia’s passion for baking began in her family kitchen, where she spent hours experimenting with new recipes. With a background in baking and pastry arts, she loves making desserts that are as visually stunning as they are delicious.
Sophia is all about using seasonal, locally sourced ingredients to create treats that everyone will enjoy. When she’s not creating mouth-watering desserts, you can find her gardening, making new recipes, or enjoying a relaxing afternoon with her family.
Sophia Rivera
Recipe Developer & Kitchen Tips Specialist
Expertise
Education
Austin Community College
San Antonio Culinary Institute
Sophia’s passion for baking began in her family kitchen, where she spent hours experimenting with new recipes. With a background in baking and pastry arts, she loves making desserts that are as visually stunning as they are delicious.
Sophia is all about using seasonal, locally sourced ingredients to create treats that everyone will enjoy. When she’s not creating mouth-watering desserts, you can find her gardening, making new recipes, or enjoying a relaxing afternoon with her family.