🥗 Classic Southern Pea Salad – A Southern Delight
This Classic Southern Pea Salad is a simple, creamy, and delicious side dish that’s perfect for any meal or potluck. With a mix of sweet peas, hard-boiled eggs, bacon, and cheese, it’s a flavor-packed salad that’s sure to be a hit!
🛒 Ingredients:
1 package of frozen sweet peas, thawed or canned peas
2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
4 to 6 slices of bacon, cooked until crisp and crumbled, or 1 cup of cooked and chopped ham (optional)
1/2 cup chopped green onions or regular onions
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese or preferred cheese
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
🍳 Instructions:
Prepare the Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the sweet peas (thawed or drained if using canned), chopped hard-boiled eggs, and crumbled bacon (or chopped ham if you’re using it).
Add the Flavor: Sprinkle the black pepper, salt, and garlic powder over the pea mixture. Add the chopped green onions and shredded cheddar cheese.
Mix Together: Gently stir all the ingredients together until well combined. If you’d like, you can add a little bit of mayonnaise or sour cream for extra creaminess (optional).
Chill and Serve: Cover the bowl and chill the salad in the refrigerator for about an hour before serving. This will let the flavors meld together beautifully.
🍽 Pro Tips:
Make it Ahead: This salad keeps well in the fridge for 2-3 days, so it’s great for meal prep or a dish that can be made in advance for gatherings.
Extra Veggies: You can add diced bell peppers or carrots for some color and crunch!
Vegan Option: Skip the bacon or ham, and use a dairy-free cheese alternative to make this salad vegan.
🔄 Variations:
For a richer flavor, add dijon mustard or a touch of apple cider vinegar to the dressing.
Switch the cheddar cheese for colby jack or any other favorite cheese.
Add a sprinkle of paprika on top for some added color and flavor.