Do peas get harder the longer you cook them?

Cooking time will vary depending on your texture preference. Cook for longer if you desire soft peas. Don't overcook otherwise peas will shrivel and become tough . Season after cooking – once cooked, immediately add lemon juice (highly recommended) and seasoning(s) of choice.

How to make peas in a can better?

Making canned peas taste delicious is easier than you think! Try sautéing them with garlic and onion in a bit of butter or olive oil for added flavor . You can also sprinkle them with herbs like parsley, thyme, or dill, along with a squeeze of lemon juice for brightness.

What happens if you don't soak peas before cooking?

Lentils and peas are softer than dried beans. They'll cook within 5 to 20 minutes without any soaking time.

Why won't my peas get soft?

If the peas are very old and dried out , they won't soften.

What does baking soda do for peas?

A teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda can be added to the peas whilst soaking or cooking (to speed up the softening process ), but you can still achieve that perfect creamy texture with nothing but water - unless your water is especially hard.

What pairs well with peas?

Our peas love being with their fellow veggies to make for nutrient dense dishes, they especially love being with fruit and vegetables full of strong flavours like asparagus, leek, onion, garlic and lemons as well as protein rich edamame and iron packed kale and spinach (check out our Green Baked Eggs with Peas and ...

What is the difference between English peas and regular peas?

Garden peas are sometimes called sweet peas or English peas. The pods are firm and rounded, but you must shell them, remove the peas inside, then discard the pods before eating . The peas are sweet and may be eaten raw or cooked; these are the peas you typically see canned or in the freezer section.

Why are my peas always hard?

If the peas (and beans or lentils for that matter) are old, they will not soften . It is best to buy new ones. Their shelf life is about one year. If you can, try and buy from a place with a regular turn over of stock.

Why are my peas for pea soup hard?

The belief that beans can't be salted early in cooking also has been disproved in several test kitchens, so salt probably isn't the problem either. If your split peas don't get soft, it's more likely they are old or were stored in a container that wasn't airtight .

How long to cook peas?

How to cook peas. Boil (2-3 mins - use the minimum amount of water needed, and don't add salt, as they'll toughen up. A pinch of sugar will bring out their sweetness). Steam (1-2 mins).

Are fresh peas supposed to be hard?

Peas are of best quality when they are immature and fully expanded, but not hard and starchy . Peas should be cooked soon after being picked because their quality, like that of sweet corn, deteriorates rapidly.

Old-Fashioned Pea Salad Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (2024)

June 19, 2018February 21, 2023

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This Old-Fashioned Pea Salad is simple to make but is always a crowd-pleaser at our family gatherings. You just combine all the ingredients, mix and this pea salad is ready to serve. The simple ingredients include canned peas, onion, hard boiled eggs, celery, salt and pepper, cheddar cheese and mayonnaise.

Table of Contents

Old-Fashioned Pea Salad Recipe

This is one of those classic recipes that is always on the table when our mom’s siblings (and their families) gather for a meal. Our Aunt Terri has made this Old-Fashioned Pea Salad for years. If she does not bring it, she hears about it the entire time the family is together.

What is the one dish that is a must have at your family gatherings? Does the same person have to make it every time or can anyone in the family volunteer to bring it?

Barbara asked Aunt Terri if she would let us share it here on our blog and she graciously agreed.

Pea Salad Ingredients

Canned peas (also called canned sweet peas), drained
Hard Boiled Eggs
Onions, chopped
Celery, diced small
Mayonnaise
Sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
Salt
Pepper

English Pea Salad

Using just one can of peas, this recipe is perfect for a side dish for a normal meal without too many leftovers. However, it can easily be doubled (or tripled) for cookouts and pitch-ins. This pea salad can be eaten right away or chilled for later.

This is a humble salad but it is sure to please. We love how simple the ingredients are and how fast this pea salad is to throw together. And,the celery gives this salad a great crunch with the canned peas.

This salad uses three hard-boiled eggs. If you are going to the trouble of making hard-boiled eggs, go ahead and make a few extra for deviled eggs or this Luscious Lettuce Salad in a Jar.

Pea Salad Variations

What are some easy pea salad variations?

Pea Salad is a very versatile old fashioned type of salad. If you don’t have all the ingredients for the classic version, search your refrigerator and create your own with what you have. Here’s three of our favorite pea salad recipes to help inspire you to create your own.

Bacon and Cheese Pea Salad

Creamy Dill Pea Salad

Crunchy Ranch Pea Salad

What can I add to pea salad to make it taste better?

Essentially you can throw in anything but the kitchen sink to make your pea salad taste better. Here are 20 great pea salad ingredients.

crispy bacon or real bacon bits
ham
hard boiled eggs
celery
onion
shredded cheese, any variety
diced apples
sour cream
red onions
cooked pasta
relish
chopped dill pickles
vinegar
green or red peppers
Worcestershire sauce
sugar
mustard
Ranch dressing
water chestnuts
raw cauliflower
lemon juice or zest
Green yogurt
green onions

How To Make Classic Pea Salad Recipe

Step By Step Instructions

It’s simple, actually almost too simple.

Drain the peas.
Chop the onions.
Hard boil and chop or slice the eggs.
Chop the celery.
Add them all to a large mixing bowl, and mix with salt, pepper, shredded cheddar cheese and mayonnaise.

Storage Instruction

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.

This easy peasy pea salad will chill nicely, and even taste better after a couple hours in the refrigerator.

Scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full instructions and ingredient amounts for pea salad with eggs.

Recipe FAQs

This is a pea salad recipe using canned peas. Be sure to drain the peas well before adding to the salad.
Chop the onions and celery into a small dice or chop so that they aren’t larger than the peas.
We use shredded cheddar cheese but feel free to substitute in your favorite type of cheese instead.
Double or triple this recipe for a pitch-in or potluck!
Eat immediately if desired, or let it chill for a few hours in the fridge to let the flavors marinate together.
If you are looking for a lighter, low-fat option, try our Creamy Dill Pea Salad which features frozen peas and sour cream. Or if you love all things bacon, try our Easy Bacon Pea Salad.

Old Fashioned Recipes Using Peas

Creamed Peas (using canned peas)

Old Fashioned Creamed Peas (from frozen)

Old-Fashioned Pea Salad

Old-Fashioned Pea Salad is simple to make but is always a crowd-pleaser at our family gatherings. You just combine all the ingredients, mix and this pea salad is ready to serve.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time0 minutes mins

Total Time10 minutes mins

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy peasy pea salad, old-fashioned pea salad, pea salad with eggs

Servings: 8

Calories: 135kcal

Author: Barbara

Ingredients

15 ounces canned green peas, drained
2 Tablespoons onion chopped
3 hard boiled eggs chopped
1/4 cup celery chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup cheddar cheese shredded
1/2 cup mayonnaise

Instructions

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

Notes

This is a peas salad recipe using canned peas. Be sure to drain the peas well before adding to the salad.
Chop the onions and celery into a small dice or chop so that aren’t larger than the peas.
Double or triple this recipe for a pitch-in or potluck!
Eat immediately if desired, or let it chill for a few hours in the fridge to let the flavors marinate together.
If you are looking for a lighter, low-fat option, try our Creamy Dill Pea Salad which features frozen peas and sour cream. Or if you love all things bacon, try our Easy Bacon Pea Salad.
Please note that the carb counts, calorie counts and nutritional information varies greatly depending on the products you use. The auto-calculation is an automated estimate and should NOT be used for specific dietary needs.

Nutrition

Sharing over at Meal Plan Monday #170!

Linking up to Weekend Potluck.