Simple Cashew Sesame Snap Pea Salad Recipe | Vegan & Gluten-free (2024)

By Shannon @ Yup, it's Vegan 2 Comments

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I’ve been subjecting you to a lot of comfort food lately, so I figured this was the perfect time to change things up with a nice light salad. This easy cashew sesame snap pea salad takes just about 15 minutes to make, and only 7 ingredients. Simplicity at its finest! Brought to you by the fact that I’m totally obsessedwith sugar snap peas at the moment – like, we’re talking spend-half-of-my-grocery-budget-on-them and eat-them-straight-from-the-bag levels.

Simple Cashew Sesame Snap Pea Salad Recipe | Vegan & Gluten-free (1)

The original inspiration comes from this sesame cashew cabbage salad mix I’ve been buying at Costco. (Side note: did you know that Costco has a fairlyexcellent selection of vegan stuff? Is anyone interested in a guide?) Yes, guilty as charged of not always making my salads from scratch. Whatever, I’m picky about salads and the Costco one is cheap and good. The dressing is somewhat disappointingly sugary and greasy, though, considering that there are plenty of delicious and nutritious salad dressings out there. (I’ll admit it’s delicious however.)

Simple Cashew Sesame Snap Pea Salad Recipe | Vegan & Gluten-free (2)

So one day, when I was reach into my refrigerator for some – you guessed it – sugar snap peas, I glanced at some leftover Costco salad dressing hiding in the back corner, and immediately knewthat I needed to make a cashew sesame snap pea salad soon.

Simple Cashew Sesame Snap Pea Salad Recipe | Vegan & Gluten-free (3)

The great thing about swapping in snap peas for the traditional cabbage is that they’re super sweet in their raw form, which allowed me to usea dressing without any added sugar. Sweet! (Pun intended. Ugh.). I whisked together just a touch of toasted sesame oil with some fresh citrus and it was the perfect complement for the fresh raw veggies. Even though they’re mostly whole or halved in my pictures, I actually recommend chopping your cashews so that you can use the same amount but distribute them into every bite.

Simple Cashew Sesame Snap Pea Salad Recipe | Vegan & Gluten-free (4)

Thiscashew sesame snap pea salad is easy, healthy, and fresh. It does great with substitutions of your favorite raw veggies and fresh tasting dressings to mix it up! I absolutely love simple raw veggie preparations like this that let beautiful spring produce shine. Aren’t those snap peas just gorgeous? Happy salad-eating!

Simple Cashew Sesame Snap Pea Salad Recipe | Vegan & Gluten-free (5)

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5 from 1 vote

Cashew Sesame Snap Pea Salad

Fresh and delicious cashew sesame snap pea salad with a simple orange sesame vinaigrette. Only a few ingredients and 15 minutes are needed to make this vegan and gluten-free salad come to life.

Course Salad

Cuisine soy-free, vegan, vegetarian

Keyword cashew snap peas, sesame snap pea salad

Prep Time 15 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Servings 2 big helpings

Calories 313kcal

Author Yup, it's Vegan

Ingredients

  • 8 oz raw snap peas trimmed if needed, cut in half lengthwise
  • 1 cup shredded carrot
  • 1 bunch of chives cut into 2-inch pieces (or green onions or scallions - green parts only)
  • 1/2 cup salted roasted cashews
  • (optional) toasted sesame seeds, for topping

For the citrus sesame dressing:

  • 6 tablespoons freshly-squeezed orange juice
  • 4 tablespoons freshly-squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/2 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Prepare the dressing by vigorously whisking together all of the ingredients, or closing them tightly in a jar and shaking it. Season to taste with more salt, pepper and citrus.

  • Add all of the chopped veggies and the cashews to a salad bowl and gently toss them together with dressing to taste. Some of the peas will probably fall out of the halved snap pea pods; this is fine, just mix them in with everything else.

  • Serve right away, or cold. This salad will stay decent in the fridge for a day or two after you make it, although it's best fresh.

Notes

MIX AND MATCH: Other veggies that would be great served raw in this sesame snap pea salad include bell peppers, cabbage, and kohlrabi. Swap them for the carrot or just add them too, chopped into pieces similar in size to the snap peas.

MAKE AHEAD: You can make the dressing in advance, but this recipe is superfast already.

Serves 2 as a large side or up to 4 as a smaller side salad.

Nutrition

Serving: 1half recipe | Calories: 313kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 156mg | Potassium: 725mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 11000IU | Vitamin C: 75.1mg | Calcium: 100mg | Iron: 2.7mg

More salads for non-salad people:

Collard Green Pesto Chickpea Salad

Wild Rice Salad with Basil Vinaigrette

Avocado Macaroni Salad

Simple Cashew Sesame Snap Pea Salad Recipe | Vegan & Gluten-free (2024)

FAQs

Can you eat snow peas and sugar snap peas raw? ›

How to Enjoy Them. Both sugar snap and snow peas are available fresh and frozen. One of the best and easiest ways to enjoy these types of peas is to simply remove the tough string around the pod and eat them raw. You can also dip them in hummus or yogurt vegetable dip.

Do you need to shell sugar snap peas? ›

Sugar snap peas are small, crunchy and sweet peas. The entire pod is edible and can be used in various recipes.

Are snap peas low glycemic? ›

They are a low calorie, naturally sweet vegetable, with a low glycemic index value. Snap peas can be eaten raw or sauteed, roasted, steamed, stir-fried, or pan grilled. Snap peas are a good source of vitamin C, vitamin K, iron, fiber, and vitamin A.

Which is healthier snow peas or sugar snap peas? ›

Sugar snap peas are a cross between snow and garden peas. The pods of snow peas are flatter with small, premature peas, whereas sugar snap peas are more rounded. Both have an identical nutritional profile and very similar flavors although sugar snap peas tend to be sweeter and more flavorful.

Are white spots on snap peas safe to eat? ›

Can you eat sugar snap peas if they have white spots? The white spots are scarring and you can eat them.

What is the best way to eat sugar snap peas? ›

Eat sugar snap peas raw or gently boiled so they don't lose that wonderful crisp crunch – they're great in salads or stir-fries.

What are the black spots on my sugar snap peas? ›

The fungi that cause blackspot may either be seed-borne, soil-borne, or survive in pea trash. The disease usually becomes established when spores of the fungi, produced on old pea stubble, are carried into the new crop by wind. Infection may occur at any stage of plant growth.

Are sugar snap peas better raw or cooked? ›

While you can eat them raw, sugar snaps are much better if very lightly cooked. Not only do they look better, a deep vibrant green compared to the pale mottled look when raw, they actually get a little sweeter without losing any of that satisfying crunch.

Are sugar snap peas constipating? ›

Promote digestive health: The high fiber content in snap peas can help promote healthy digestion and prevent constipation. Support heart health: The fiber, potassium, and antioxidants in snap peas may help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Can I eat peas every day? ›

Constant consumption of green peas can lead to excessive weight gain. Green peas are well known for regulating blood sugar and cholesterol. Fibre facilitates bowel movements and prevents excessive untimely eating. However, the protein and carbohydrates present in peas can also make you gain weight.

Are sugar snap peas inflammatory? ›

Peas are a good source of vitamins C and E, zinc, and other antioxidants that strengthen your immune system. Other nutrients, such as vitamins A and B and coumestrol, help reduce inflammation and lower your risk of chronic conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis.

Can I eat sugar snap peas without cooking them? ›

Sugar snap peas are also known as snap peas, and are pod fruits. Both the peas and the pod are edible and they don't need to be cooked. The plants are climbing plants and can grow as tall as two metres!

Are snap peas good for you raw? ›

Snap peas are a fresh, refreshing vegetable that can be added to a variety of recipes or eaten raw. They are easy to grow in pots or with trellises. Best of all, these plants offer a variety of health benefits that make them a great addition to most diets.

Are snow peas better raw or cooked? ›

Do snow peas need to be cooked? Snow peas can be eaten raw or cooked. However, blanching snow peas will reduce the fibrousness of the edges of snow peas, and boost sweetness and colour. Another good way to cook snow peas is to toss them with a little oil in a hot wok for 1-2 minutes or until tender-crisp.

Can you eat sugar snap peas raw skin? ›

Can You Eat the Skin of Sugar Snap Peas? Yes! The skin on sugar snap peas is crisp and totally edible. If you purchased loose snap peas from the farmers market or grocery store, chances are they're not trimmed, so you may want to remove the stem and pull the string off the side, both of which can be tough.

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