Festive Pea Salad Food

OLD-FASHIONED PEA SALAD

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients together gently.
• Chill, if you want, and serve.

PEA SALAD

Steps:

• Mix the sour cream, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, and vinegar together to make the dressing. Add more salt and pepper to taste.
• Stir 2/3 of the dressing into the peas until the peas are coated. Gently stir in the bacon, onion, cheese, and parsley until all combined. Taste and adjust seasonings. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 2 to 4 hours before serving. (Pop the extra dressing in the fridge, too.)
• Remove from the fridge and stir in the rest of the dressing to your liking. Sprinkle with more parsley before serving.

SPRING PEA SALAD WITH JAMON AND MUSTARD VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Make the dressing: Whisk together the vinegar, mustard, olive oil, hazelnut oil, pepper, shallot and salt to taste in a small bowl. Adjust the seasonings. Set aside.
• Make the salad: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season with salt until the water tastes slightly of salted broth. Prepare an ice bath.
• Blanch the English peas and snap peas separately, for about 10 seconds each. Shock in the ice water and drain on paper towels. Cut the snap peas into thirds.
• In a medium skillet, heat the olive oil over low heat. Tear the Jamon Serrano slices into bite-sized pieces and add to the oil in the skillet. Cook until crispy on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes total. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
• Assemble the salad: Toss the English peas, snap peas, pea shoots and snow peas with the vinaigrette to taste. Plate the salad and top with the Manchego, toasted hazelnuts and crispy jamon.

BIG FESTIVE SALAD

Steps:

• For the candied nuts: In a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, toast the pistachios and hazelnuts until fragrant, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the brown sugar, salt, vanilla and 1 tablespoon water directly to the pan with the nuts and stir to coat them. Cook until the sugar has dissolved, about 1 additional minute. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet and allow to cool, 12 to 15 minutes.
• For the dressing: Combine the olive oil, vinegar, maple syrup, mustard, salt and pepper in a mason jar. Secure the lid and shake to combine. Set aside.
• For the salad: Spread the arugula, kale and spinach over a large round platter, leaving space in the center of the platter (it should look like a holiday wreath). Top the greens with the radicchio. Arrange the mandarin segments over the greens. Sprinkle with the pomegranate seeds, cranberries, blueberries and cooled candied nuts.
• Lastly, sprinkle with the Parmesan, creating the look of snow. Shake the dressing one more time and pour it into a serving bowl. Place the bowl in the center of the platter and serve.