Snap Pea Salad with Whipped Feta

A plate of Snap Pea Salad on whipped feta on a table.

5 from 1 vote

Snap Pea Salad with Whipped Feta

This Snap Pea Salad with Whipped Feta is flavor packed! Features crisp sugar snap peas, homemade chili garlic oil, and creamy feta. Serve with bread to scoop up every last drop! It's an impressive, yet easy recipe for entertaining. (Vegetarian, Gluten Free).

Prep Time13

Cook Time5

Total Time18

Servings:

Author: Bri Beaudoin

Ingredients

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves minced garlic
½ to ¾ teaspoon red pepper flakes
¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
¾ cup crumbled feta cheese
½ cup plain Greek yogurt
16 oz sugar snap peas (see note 1)
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice (and lemon zest, for garnish)
fresh dill (optional)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Make oil: In a small saucepan, stir together ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil, 2 cloves minced garlic, ½ to ¾ teaspoon red pepper flakes, and ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt. Warm over low heat until the garlic barely begins to sizzle. Then, let cook for 1 minute or until fragrant. Remove from heat; let oil cool in the pan while you finish the salad.
Whip feta: Combine ¾ cup crumbled feta cheese and ½ cup plain Greek yogurt in a food processor (see note 2). Process until smooth. Set aside.
Blanch peas: Set aside a large bowl of ice water. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Scatter in 16 oz sugar snap peas and boil for 45 seconds, until bright green and tender (don't overcook!). Immediately plunge snap peas into the ice water. Let cool for 1 minute in the water, then transfer to a clean kitchen towel and pat very dry.
Toss peas: Add the snap peas to the saucepan of cooled oil (or a bowl if not big enough). Drizzle with 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice. Toss well to coat. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed (the feta will be another source of salt).
Assemble: Spoon the whipped feta on a plate. Top with the snap peas and drizzle over the oil. Garnish with fresh lemon zest—and fresh dill, if using (see note 3).

Notes

Snap Peas: Buy "stringless" snap peas to save prep time. If you can't get stringless snap peas, you will likely want to peel off the string prior to blanching them. Stringless snap peas are
Whipped Feta: You want this mixture to looser than hummus, but not quite as runny as cream. It's meant to coat the snap peas as you eat this dish, a bit like a creamy salad dressing. If your Greek yogurt isn't very thick, start with a bit less and then add more if needed. If you don't have a food processor, you can use a blender.
Serving Suggestions: Delicious served with a side of sliced bread, naan, pita, etc. for dipping into the whipped feta and chili garlic oil.
Storage Tips: This salad looks prettiest when made fresh. But leftovers can keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. (Olive oil can solidify in the fridge, but will become liquid again at room temperature).

Nutrition