sugar snap pea salad with miso dressing
Life happenings/observations lately:
1) It’s been cold here. You know this. But what you don’t know is that because of said cold, I’ve upped my not-leaving-the-house-today attractiveness by wrapping my yoga pants/baggy sweatshirt-clad self in a blanket, kind of like an adult-size burrito, and walking/sitting like that inside all day. SO COOL, I am. But also, not freezing.
2) If someone could invent a completely non-alcoholic red wine that actually tastes like decent red wine and could ship me about a trillion bottles of it, I’d be so, so happy. Non-alcoholic Manhattans would be great, too. Oh, and sushi. BECAUSE THEY’RE ALL I WANT. Sigh.
3) Can we talk about maternity leggings? I’m not going to lie, guys, they’re amazing. Good talk.
4) I’m turning into that person who watches — nay, binges on — Friday Night Lights greatly in part because I have a weird marriage-crush on the Taylors but also: Tim Riggins. The end.
5) I made this salad, and it was like the salad angels opened wide the heavens and rained down into the salad all the magical deliciousness that a salad could possibly have. The end again.
Salads have been making more and more of an appearance in our household lately because for one, they’re good for you and for two, they are a great way to get that daily dose of veggies. I’ve been trying to meet my veg quota every day for a few months now and guess what? I actually feel better because I’m meeting it. Who’da thunk? Veggies = healthful goodness feelings.
So, we’ve been replacing our usual dinner go-tos like enchiladas and pasta with things like this brussels sprouts and kale salad (SO GOOD), this BLT chopped salad (OMG) and now, this sugar snap pea salad. It’s got a crunch factor that I can’t get enough of, and it’s doused in that dressing you get on your appetizer salad at those Teppanyaki grill-style Japanese restaurants where they cook in front of you and it gets really awkward when they flip the egg over and over with a spatula (to show their cooking skills, apparently) but it accidentally falls too soon and breaks right onto the grill. YOU know.
Now generally yes, I like to keep my recipes on here within the realm of seasonality and I know this recipe so isn’t. But every once in a while, a recipe just sounds too good for me to pass it up based on season. And so, this salad came to be on a cold January weeknight. And it was welcomed with open arms (and mouths).
Of course, if you want some seasonality, you can serve it with Cara Cara orange segments (which I tried for the first time recently thanks to inspiration from this gal and it was instant love) and it will be a very good idea. Just like the adult-size burrito blanket.
PrintSugar Snap Pea Salad with Miso Dressing
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 25 mins
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
For the salad:
- 1/2 lb sugar snap peas
- 1/2 lb Napa cabbage, thinly sliced
- 4 medium-large radishes, thinly sliced
- 3 large green onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted (in a 300 degrees F oven for 10 minutes)
For the dressing:
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
- 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons sweet white miso, plus more to taste
- 2 tablespoons tahini or sesame seed paste
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Drop snap peas into water; boil 2 minutes until bright-green and softened but still crisp. Drain, then immediately transfer to an ice-water bath in a medium bowl and let cool completely. Drain, then pat dry. Chop peas into thin slices and place in a large bowl.
- Add sliced cabbage, radishes and green onions to bowl. Toss lightly.
- Combine all ingredients for dressing in a blender and blend until smooth. Taste and add more miso as needed.
- Drizzle dressing over salad, then toss lightly again. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve immediately.
Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link.
What a gorgeous salad! Even if it is a little out of season that is ok:-) the oranges would be a nice touch!
Oh girl I hear you on the wine and sushi. I’m not a huge drinker, but I guess because I couldn’t have it when I was pregnant, I wanted it even more! And funny story – after giving birth, Lucas went and got us sushi for our first night in the hospital! LOL.
I love the white miso dressing – I’ll have to definitely trying this!
lol, you kill me. I’ve never been pregnant, but those maternity leggings could probably be used around the holiday…also, I’m marathon training and not drinking so I feel you on the non-alcoholic red wine!! Also, this salad? YES!
I am sitting in a burrito blanket as I type this! No lie–last night, I got up to go to the bathroom while in burrito (um, did I just type that?) and was going to attempt to hike it up before I realized what a terrible idea it was. I think it’s becoming a part of me!
This is so pretty and that miso dressing sound so good!! Love the colors and the crunch!
It’s not even that cold here but I want to be a human burrito! And eat this salad, of course.
HA! I too am currently wrapped like an adult burrito! Love this salad and that dressing, my friend!
Lol you are too funny! But I feel like I’ve been existing in a burrito blanket too. Soiled it with chocolate yesterday as I attempted to check a cake in the oven with blanket on. This is such a pretty salad. I love the miso dressing!!
All these are actually in season where I live, so I have no problem with it! I love balance you created with the sweet, bitter and crunchy here. Also that dressing, My new fave combo too.
I just love your posts.. I can so remember those pregnancy cravings, except when I was pregnant no one told me I couldn’t eat sushi, (yes it was THAT long ago). Sadly, I didn’t like sushi back then, a travesty, I know. This salad so lovely is definitely comfort food of the best kind. Beautiful!
Lauren — I just can’t do the winter thing with my food all day every day anymore, ya know? ๐ Thanks, dear!
Steph — I really want to give birth and then as immediately as possible have a glass of red wine and sushi. I might even put it in my birth plan. ๐
Ali — Isn’t it the best dressing ever? I could eat it with a spoon.
Katrina — I’m pretty sure maternity leggings would DEFINITELY come in handy over the holidays. They’re amazing. ๐ Thanks, friend!