Ina Garten’s Fresh Pea Salad Recipe: Mint & Manchego Magic

Fresh pea salad bursts with vibrant colors and crisp textures that dance on your palate.

Green legumes transform into a stunning culinary creation that signals summer’s arrival.

Delicate mint leaves weave fragrant whispers through each delightful bite.

Sharp cheese crumbles add unexpected complexity to this seemingly simple dish.

The salad celebrates seasonal ingredients with remarkable elegance and understated sophistication.

Bright, zesty notes from citrus complement the vegetable’s natural sweetness perfectly.

Mediterranean influences shine through in this uncomplicated yet remarkable recipe: prepare to fall in love.

Why Fresh Pea Salad with Manchego Is a Spring Favorite

• Burst with Fresh Spring Flavors: This vibrant pea salad explodes with bright, crisp tastes that capture the essence of springtime in every bite. Lemon and mint create a zesty, refreshing profile that dances on your palate.
• Master Quick and Easy Technique: Home cooks will love how simple this recipe is to prepare. Blanching peas takes mere minutes, and the vinaigrette comes together with just a quick whisk, making it perfect for busy weeknight meals or elegant gatherings.
• Celebrate Textural Wonderland: The combination of tender green peas, crunchy snap peas, and delicate shaved Manchego cheese delivers an incredible mix of textures. Each forkful offers a delightful crunch and smooth sophistication that keeps your taste buds excited.
• Versatile Serving Sensation: Whether served chilled or at room temperature, this salad adapts to any occasion. It's equally stunning as a light lunch, sophisticated side dish, or stunning starter that impresses guests with minimal effort.

What Goes into Ina Garten’s Fresh Pea Salad

• Green Peas, Snap Peas: Sweet and tender vegetables that create the base of the salad, with green peas providing soft texture and snap peas adding crisp crunch.

• Mint Leaves: Fresh herb that brings bright, cool flavor and aromatic quality to the salad.
• Manchego Cheese: Spanish sheep's milk cheese with nutty, tangy profile that adds richness and complexity.

• Lemon Juice: Bright, acidic liquid that balances the salad and helps emulsify the dressing.
• Olive Oil: Smooth, fruity fat that creates the base of the vinaigrette and helps coat ingredients.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance and balance the overall flavor of the dish.

Tossing Together This Pea Salad Perfection

Step 1: Prepare Green Peas

Grab a medium saucepan and fill with water. Add salt and bring to a rolling boil. Meanwhile, create an ice bath in a large bowl. Drop green peas into boiling water and cook for 3-4 minutes until they’re crisp and bright. Quickly drain and plunge peas into ice water to halt cooking. Drain again and transfer to a serving bowl.

Step 2: Add Snap Peas and Mint

Toss sugar snap peas and mint leaves into the green peas. Gently mix to combine all the vibrant green ingredients.

Step 3: Create Zesty Vinaigrette

• Lemon juice
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Black pepper

Blend until the dressing looks smooth and combined.

Step 4: Dress the Salad

Drizzle vinaigrette over the pea mixture. Sprinkle additional salt and pepper. Toss gently to ensure every pea gets a delicious coating.

Step 5: Incorporate Manchego Cheese

Carefully fold shaved Manchego cheese into the salad. Be gentle to keep the cheese delicate and unbroken.

Step 6: Final Touch and Serve

Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve chilled or at room temperature for a refreshing side dish that bursts with flavor.

Pea Salad Tips for Fresh and Bright Flavors

• Quick-Chill Peas: Plunge just-boiled peas into ice water to stop cooking and lock in their vibrant green color and crisp texture.
• Mint Matters: Grab fresh mint leaves for a zesty, aromatic burst that dried herbs can't match in this summery salad.
• Cheese Shaving Trick: Glide a vegetable peeler along the Manchego to create delicate, wispy cheese curls that distribute evenly.
• Taste Test Magic: Sample the salad before serving and adjust seasonings to make each bite perfectly balanced and delicious.
• Temperature Sweet Spot: Enjoy the salad chilled or at room temperature to preserve the peas' tender-crisp quality and bright flavors.

Store Pea Salad While Keeping It Crisp

• Seal Smartly: Transfer cooled salad into glass containers with tight-fitting lids to maintain maximum freshness and prevent flavor absorption from other refrigerator items. Mason jars or clear rectangular containers work perfectly for preserving texture and visual appeal.
• Avoid Mint Wilting: Separate fresh mint leaves from salad when storing to prevent browning and maintain crisp, vibrant green color. Keep mint sprigs in a separate small container wrapped in slightly damp paper towel to preserve delicate herbs.
• Quick Consumption: Enjoy the pea salad within 24-36 hours for optimal taste and crunchiness. Manchego cheese and peas tend to lose their peak flavor and texture after two days, so plan your meal preparation strategically to savor the salad at its best quality.

Fresh Ideas for Pea Salad Lovers

• Summer Garden Veggie Boost: Enhance the salad by adding diced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and thinly sliced radishes for extra crunch and color.
• Mediterranean Protein Punch: Incorporate grilled chicken or chickpeas to transform the light salad into a hearty main dish with Mediterranean flavors.
• Nutty Crunch Edition: Sprinkle toasted pine nuts or sliced almonds on top for a rich, nutty texture that complements the creamy Manchego cheese.
• Herb Garden Remix: Replace mint with fresh basil or chervil, creating a different aromatic profile while maintaining the salad's bright, fresh essence.

Wrap-Up on the Pea Salad Plate

Culinary magic blooms in Ina Garten’s fresh pea salad, where Mediterranean flavors dance alongside crisp garden vegetables.

Garden-fresh peas mingle with aromatic mint, creating sensational summer memories on each plate.

Manchego cheese adds sophisticated richness, elevating this simple side dish into gourmet territory.

Lemon’s bright acidity provides perfect balance, making each bite refreshingly complex.

Simple ingredients combine with elegant technique, showcasing Garten’s signature understated sophistication.

Dig into this green masterpiece – you’ll want seconds, share the recipe, and celebrate seasonal simplicity with every delightful forkful.

Ina Garten Fresh Pea Salad With Mint & Manchego Recipe

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4.6 from 33 reviews

• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s fresh pea salad celebrates spring’s bounty with crisp English peas, fragrant mint, and nutty manchego cheese. Delicate yet bold flavors dance together, creating a light and refreshing side dish perfect for summer gatherings.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Vegetables:

• 2 cups / 300g freshly shelled green peas (from 2 pounds / 900g in the pod)
• 14 ounces / 400g sugar snap peas, strings removed, julienned lengthwise

Herbs and Citrus:

• ⅔ cup / 30g fresh mint leaves, julienned
• 6 tablespoons / 90ml freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 to 3 lemons)

Dressing and Seasonings:

• ½ cup / 120ml good olive oil
• 6 ounces / 170g Manchego cheese, shaved with a vegetable peeler
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

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Instructions

1. Prepare a medium saucepan with water, adding of salt, and bring to a rolling boil. Simultaneously, create an ice bath in a large bowl to halt the cooking process.
2. Submerge green peas into the boiling water, cooking for 3 to 4 minutes until they reach a crisp-tender texture. Quickly drain and transfer peas into the ice water to prevent further cooking.
3. Once cooled, thoroughly drain the green peas and transfer them to a spacious serving bowl, ensuring minimal moisture remains.
4. Incorporate sugar snap peas and delicately sliced mint leaves into the green peas, gently mixing to distribute ingredients evenly.
5. Create a vibrant vinaigrette by whisking together fresh lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, salt, and ½ teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) ground black pepper in a small measuring cup until the mixture becomes smooth and emulsified.
6. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the vegetable mixture, using just enough to lightly coat all ingredients without overwhelming them.
7. Sprinkle an additional ½ teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) salt and ¼ teaspoon (1.25 milliliters) ground black pepper, then tenderly toss the salad to ensure even seasoning.
8. Delicately fold in shaved Manchego cheese, taking care to maintain its elegant, thin structure during incorporation.
9. Perform a final taste test, adjusting seasonings if necessary, and serve the salad chilled or at ambient temperature according to personal preference.

Notes

• Chill peas quickly to lock in their vibrant green color and crisp texture by immediately transferring them to an ice bath after boiling.
• Select only fresh mint leaves to elevate the salad’s aromatic profile and ensure a bright, clean flavor.
• Create delicate Manchego cheese ribbons using a vegetable peeler, allowing the cheese to disperse evenly throughout the salad.
• Maintain the perfect temperature by serving the salad chilled or at room temperature to preserve the peas’ ideal texture and overall taste.
• Opt for high-quality, fresh ingredients to transform this simple salad into a memorable and delightful culinary experience.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 5 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Boiling
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 serving (based on 6 servings)
• Calories: 220 kcal
• Sugar: 4g
• Sodium: 330mg
• Fat: 19g
• Saturated Fat: 6g
• Carbohydrates: 9g
• Fiber: 4g
• Protein: 8g
• Cholesterol: 35mg