Pea Salad with Radishes and Feta

I feel like it’s been quite a while since I posted (especially other than scheduled posts).  We’ve been busy in the yard (in between torrential rains), I spent most of one week in Austin at a training, and the in-laws were here for Easter.   Not a lot of time for blogging.

We have been cooking, though.  The rice bowls are still flying out of the kitchen and I have made one extraordinary fig/goat cheese flatbread that I hope to post later.

Today, however, has me traveling back in time to our Easter Dinner.   The Hubs’ parents are very low-key and that’s why we love for them to visit.  We don’t have to focus on “entertaining” them.  We are all content to walk around the yard, maybe visit a nursery or two, and of course catch up.

For our holiday dinner, I still focused on portion control and not putting out a huge spread.  Here was our menu:

Pea Salad with Radishes and Feta

Red Wine Maple Glazed Carrots

Herb-Smothered Roasted Pork Loin

Strawberries and Guatemalan Sweetcakes

The pea salad was perfect for a spring dinner.

Pea Salad with Radish and Feta

Based on a recipe from Bon Appetit, April 2007

A perfect spring side dish with just a touch of spice.

Ingredients

  • 2 t. cumin seeds
  • 2 T. fresh lime juice
  • 1/2 T. honey
  • 1/4 c. grape seed oil
  • 2 T. dill (I used a dill paste like Gourmet Garden.)
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 lb. frozen sweet peas
  • 1 bunch radishes, trimmed and sliced thin
  • 1 c. crumbled feta

Instructions

  1. Heat small skillet over medium heat. Add cumin seeds and toast until aromatic and slightly darker, about 2 minutes. Cool; grind finely in spice mill. Whisk lime juice, honey, and ground cumin in small bowl. Gradually whisk in oil; stir in dill. Season dressing with salt and pepper. Pour into a small carafe or jar, cover and refrigerate.  The dressing can be made a day ahead.
  2. Removed dressing from refrigerator and let set to come to room temperature.
  3. Cook peas in microwave for 4-5 minutes or until just done.  Let cool.  Transfer to a large serving bowl. Add radishes, feta, and dressing; toss. Season with salt and pepper.

Yield: 4

The original recipe called for pea tendrils as well.  Add if you like (and if you can find them).

The next time I make this, I will add a bit of mint.  I think that would complement the sweetness of the peas as well as the bite of the radish and spice of cumin.

The weather was beautiful here on Easter weekend.  Saturday the MiL and I ran to a funky and only seasonally opened greenhouse/nursery near our home.  The owner (who operates this business on her home property) is gregarious and eager to help.  She’s pretty dang funny as well.  I came away with some more succulents and cacti along with some vining Black-Eyed Susans. The MiL toted home a flat of plants she was having a difficult time finding in Houston.

She also helped me get some herbs (which I ironically had toted back from our February trip TO Houston and have kept alive in the greenhouse since) into our herb garden.

Other than that, we sat on the patio, chatted, drank hot tea, and watched the birds.

Perfect weekend.

Patio Cat

I will post up that delicious herbed pork soon.  I promise.  Missed you guys!

 

 

So sad…I missed Food ‘n Flix this month, too.  Culinary Adventures with Camilla was hosting.  I thought I had reserved the DVD from our library but my request was lost between the large library system.  I tried to find a subtitled version on line.  I even thought about cheating and watching trailers, reading about the film and posting this recipe just because of the Greek cheese and cumin spice.

That didn’t happen either.

You can check out the other dedicated member posts here.

 

 

 

 

12 comments to Pea Salad with Radishes and Feta

  • Your salad looks delicious–I love the pea, radish, cumin and feta combination and agree that mint would be a great addition. Thanks for sharing it with Souper Sundays this week.

    I am sorry you missed Food ‘n Flix, I almost did too but for the grace of another blogger. It was a tricky film to get a hold of this month. I’m looking forward to seeing your post for The Princess Bride in May–although not foodie, it is a favorite movie of mine and I am excited to see what everyone makes! 😉

    • It is our favorite as well! I have a friend who has NEVER seen it. Going to get her over here to help with the culinary inspiration.

  • Glenda L

    Hi Deb,
    Will (grandson) led me to your site. He at 10 thinks it is a cool site so he put it on my computer!! The radish salad sounds good. I can’t wait for you to wade into the new cookbook I got you a couple of weeks ago. The author and Dr. from University of Iowa health centers wrote it. She recovered from very progressive MS by changing her diet. Being on the University Medical School staff she had access to the best medicine had to offer but continued to go down hill…so she began research on diet and after about three months into it was out of her reclining wheel chair and functioning. Three years later she is back and lecturing across the nation. Dr. Terry Wahls, MD wrote “The Wahls Protocol Cooking for Life”. She suggests it is good for any autoimmune disease. She calls it the modern Paleo Plan. Your copy is of course signed by Dr. Wahls. Thanks to Will for setting up the blog for me.
    Here is the basic plan. No sugar or artificial sweeteners, no eggs, no dairy products and no gluten. She did have a TED talk up and it may still be there.
    Love,
    Mom

  • Glenda L

    Grand Cat Eliot looks good!!

  • I thought you must have been busy in gardening. And meow Eliot :-)) The salad looks very fresh and healthy!

  • Thai is a real lovely spring salad with the radishes and peas. Mint would go well. Looking forward to the cheese flatbread. Too early to plant anything here.

  • […] of Eliot’s Eats made colorful Pea Salad with Radishes and Feta and said, “The pea salad was perfect for a spring dinner. The original recipe called for pea […]

  • I saw your salad on Souper Sunday and it immediately screamed spring!
    As soon as we get our first radishes from the garden, I’m making this!!
    Looks delicious.

  • Mint would indeed compliment the flavors of this salad. Pretty salad too. I love the cat, he has character and such expression.