If you’re looking for a change from your usual lettuce, tomato and cucumber salad, this summer pea salad is a brilliant one to have up your sleeve. It’s quick to throw together, tastes wonderfully fresh, and works just as well with fresh peas or frozen peas — so you can make it any time of year.
Don’t miss our best content straight to your inbox! Sign up now and get our FREE newsletters packed with fun ideas and things to do with the kids, family-friendly recipes, expert advice, parenting tips and great competitions.
Peas are at their best during the summer months, but this salad doesn’t need freshly shucked ones to taste good. That said, if you do get your hands on fresh peas, pod them straight into the bowl — the raw peas have a lovely, slightly nutty flavour that frozen peas can’t quite match.
Ingredients
- Fresh peas or frozen peas (about 125g / 4oz per person)
- 1–2 carrots, depending on how many people you’re feeding
- Toasted sesame seeds
- Lemon juice
- Soy sauce (optional)
- Crispy bacon bits (optional)
Method
1. Start with either a bag of frozen peas or fresh peas straight from the pod.
2. The beauty of frozen peas is that you don’t need to cook them. As long as they’ve been stored properly in the freezer, just take them out about 30 minutes before you want to eat, or give them a quick 30-second dip in freshly boiled water and drain to revive them straight from frozen.
3. Peel a small carrot and shred it straight into the bowl with the peas. Add some toasted sesame seeds and a squeeze of lemon juice, and you’ve got a fresh, vegan pea salad. A dash of soy sauce or a pinch of sea salt can help lift the flavours if needed.
4. For something a little heartier, crumble in some crispy bacon for a salty, satisfying bite.
5. Good salads don’t always need an oily dressing, and this one is proof — the only liquid here is a squeeze of lemon juice. Less really is more.
This recipe, and more like it, comes from Wholesome Ireland.
You May Also Enjoy
Looking for more easy family recipes? Try our BBQ Chicken Wings or Honey Sesame Sausages — both simple, crowd-pleasing dishes perfect for summer get-togethers.
FAQs
Can I make this pea salad with frozen peas?
Yes — frozen peas work really well here. Just take them out of the freezer about 30 minutes before serving, or give them a quick 30-second dip in freshly boiled water and drain to bring them back to life straight from frozen.
Do I need to cook the peas?
No cooking is needed. Fresh peas are eaten raw straight from the pod for a nutty flavour, and frozen peas only need a quick thaw or brief dip in hot water.
Is this salad suitable for vegans?
Yes, as long as you leave out the bacon. The base recipe of peas, carrot, sesame seeds and lemon juice is naturally vegan.
Can I add other ingredients to this salad?
Absolutely — this recipe is a great base to build on. A dash of soy sauce or a sprinkle of sea salt can lift the flavours, and crispy bacon bits add a lovely salty crunch if you’d like to make it heartier.
More Family Food Ideas
If you enjoyed this recipe, you’ll also love our other quick family meal ideas, from simple salads to easy weeknight dinners the kids will actually eat.
Don’t miss our best content straight to your inbox! Sign up now for our free weekly newsletter packed with fun ideas, family recipes and things to do with the kids.
