Green Pea Salad with Bacon and Almonds

Name: Green Pea Salad with Bacon and Almonds
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 8 min
Ingredients: 3 strips bacon (cooked); 1/2 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt; 2 tablespoons honey; 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 16 ounces shelled petite peas (fresh or frozen and thawed); 1/4 cup whole roasted almonds (roughly chopped); 1/2 small red onion (finely chopped)

Jump to Recipe

49 comments »

I’ve eaten a lot of questionable things standing over my kitchen sink at 9 a.m. Until Green Pea Salad with Bacon and Almonds entered my life, I never imagined peas would be one of them.

Peas are not exactly a vegetable that garners love and esteem. More often, they are lumped into categories in the realm of, “things my toddler won’t eat” and “green foods to choke down because they are good for you.” An ardent veggie lover, even I don’t rush to cook up a side of peas for dinner, and if a restaurant offered peas as an option (which I rarely see), I would probably choose an alternative vegetable. Poor peas. No love for you—until now.

Green Pea Salad with Bacon and Almonds has taken peas from “baby food” to “food I cannot stop impulsively shoving into my face and will eat directly from the fridge,” an esteemed category typically reserved for my favorite chocolate chip cookies and Slow Cooker Honey Pulled Pork. Even Ben, who considers peas to be his least favorite vegetable, could not stop eating this healthy green pea salad.

The key to pea irresistibility is the toppings: chopped roasted almonds for warmth and crunch, red onions for bite, and a bit of crispy bacon for smokiness. (I also blame applaud the bacon for this pea salad’s addictive properties, same as I do in this bacon-y lentil and potato Pea Salad.) Vegetarians can obtain a similar effect by omitting the bacon and using smoked almonds instead of the regular roasted almonds called for in the recipe.

At the heart of the salad is a creamy, honey-sweetened dressing. Classic green pea salad calls for gobs of mayo, which completely negates the positive effects of the vegetables (plus, I have a lifelong mayo phobia.) In the mayo’s place, I made an easy, healthy dressing with Greek yogurt, which tastes rich and creamy, but is loaded with protein and calcium. I quickly mixed the yogurt with honey for sweetness and a little apple cider vinegar for balance, tossed it with the peas, and voila! A creamy pea salad that tastes just as decadent as the original, but is filled with good-for-you ingredients. Green Pea Salad with Bacon and Almonds is my current favorite for summer picnics and potlucks, or for an easy, healthy dinner side dish.

I’m sharing this recipe for Green Pea Salad with Bacon and Almonds in collaboration with the American Dairy Association Mideast. June is National Dairy Month (a.k.a. a great reason to treat yourself to some fancy cheese), and the ADA is partnering with bloggers all around the country to create healthy, delectable dairy recipes. Are you ready for this?

If only I could rock aviators like that cow.

Come join the ADA (@ADAMideast) for an evening of recipe ideas, healthy living tips, and summer shenanigans at the National Dairy Month Twitter Party. It’s June 11^th from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. EST, and you better believe it’s going to be a moovelous time! (Someone stop me.)

I leave you in peace with the peas, courtesy of Green Pea Salad with Bacon and Almonds.

Print Review

5 from 3 votes

Green Pea Salad with Bacon and Almonds

A healthy version of creamy green pea salad with smoky bacon, toasty almonds, and crunchy red onion. Peas have never been so addictive! This easy, light salad is perfect for summer picnics and potlucks and will be a hit anywhere you bring it.

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 8 mins

Servings: 4 - 6 servings

Ingredients

3 strips bacon - cooked
1/2 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
16 ounces shelled petite peas - fresh or frozen and thawed
1/4 cup whole roasted almonds - roughly chopped
1/2 small red onion - finely chopped

Instructions

If necessary, cook the bacon according to these easy steps. Once cool, chop into small pieces and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, stir together the Greek yogurt, honey, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper. Add the peas, almonds, and red onion. Toss gently to coat. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Nutrition

Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0g, Trans Fat: 0g, Potassium: 0mg, Vitamin A: 0IU, Vitamin C: 0mg, Calcium: 0mg, Iron: 0mg

Course: Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

DID YOU TRY THIS RECIPE?I want to see! Follow @wellplated on Instagram, snap a photo, and tag it #wellplated. I love to know what you are making!

For more National Dairy Month inspiration, check out these fantastic recipes from a few of my favorite bloggers and follow the ADA Mideast on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.