Snap Pea Salad with Whipped Ricotta

By Chez_Alexander

A gorgeous tangle of crunchy peas, leafy pea tendrils, and fresh herbs cascades over a creamy mixture of ricotta cheese and lemon zest. It’s such a memorable salad that it will hold its own as the centerpiece of a meal. Serve alongside seared salmon fillets or sea scallops, grilled shrimp or chicken, or a slice of white pizza. Look for pea tendrils or shoots at your farmers market or Asian markets; if you can't find them, substitute watercress or arugula.

Ingredients

• 8 ounce sugar snap peas
• 2/3 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest, grated and divided
• 1/2 cup pea tendrils or shoots
• 1/4 cup sliced fresh chives
• 2 tablespoons fresh mint, torn
• 2 tablespoons fresh dill, coarsely chopped
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Preparation

Step 1

Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil over high. Add peas and cook just until bright green and barely tender, about 1 minute. Immediately transfer peas to a bowl of ice water; let stand 5 minutes. Drain well. Thinly slice lengthwise.

Process ricotta and 1/2 teaspoon lemon rind in a food processor until smooth and creamy, about 15 seconds. Spread mixture on a serving platter.

Toss together sliced snap peas, pea tendrils, chives, mint, dill, and lemon juice in a large bowl. Arrange on top of ricotta mixture. Drizzle with oil, and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon lemon rind.