Side

Crisp leaves with peas and buttermilk herb dressing

Name: Herby pea and lettuce salad recipe
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 75g fresh peas (or frozen works fine, see note); 3 heads crisp lettuce (such as little gem, cos or iceberg), leaves separated; 1 small fennel bulb, thinly sliced on a mandoline (or with a very sharp knife); 100g sour cream; 100ml buttermilk; 40.00 ml mayonnaise, preferably homemade; Juice of 1/2 lemon (about 2 tbs); 62.50 ml chopped chives; 20.00 ml chopped dill; 1 garlic clove, grated (we used a microplane); 1 small eschalot, finely diced

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Crisp leaves with peas and buttermilk herb dressing

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by Danielle Alvarez

Nov 17, 2023

This crisp and creamy salad is the perfect summer side.

75g fresh peas (or frozen works fine, see note)
3 heads crisp lettuce (such as little gem, cos or iceberg), leaves separated
1 small fennel bulb, thinly sliced on a mandoline (or with a very sharp knife)

Buttermilk herb salad

100g sour cream
100ml buttermilk
2 tbs mayonnaise, preferably homemade
Juice of 1/2 lemon (about 2 tbs)
1/4 cup chopped chives
1 tbs chopped dill
1 garlic clove, grated (we used a microplane)
1 small eschalot, finely diced

Method

1.

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and blanch fresh peas for about 3 minutes. Strain and shock them in an ice bath as soon as they come out. If using frozen peas, simply thaw before using (see note).
2.

Wash lettuce and dry it well, either by using a salad spinner or by laying washed leaves out on clean tea towels and carefully wrapping them.
3.

To make the dressing, add all ingredients to a small bowl and whisk to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning.
4.

To serve, arrange lettuce leaves on a large platter and top with peas and sliced fennel. Finish by drizzling as much of the dressing as you like over the salad. Keep any excess dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

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Recipe Notes

Frozen peas are flash-steamed before freezing, so they don’t need to be cooked, just warmed quickly, to ensure they retain their colour and pop. Simply place frozen peas in a strainer and hold them under warm running water.