Butter Lettuce Salad with Pickled Sugar Snap Peas and Homemade Thousand Island Dressing
This recipe creates a refreshing Butter Lettuce Salad featuring crisp, quick-pickled sugar snap peas and a creamy homemade Thousand Island dressing. Finished with toasted breadcrumbs for delightful crunch, it's an easy and elegant side dish or light meal. The balance of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors makes it a versatile addition to any menu.
Equipment
- 2 Mixing Bowls One for dressing, one for breadcrumbs/pickling
- 1 Saucepan For pickling liquid
- 1 Whisk For smooth dressing
- 1 Chef's knife For lettuce, peas, and bread
- 1 Cutting Board
Ingredients
Main
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons chili sauce
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped sweet pickles or gherkins
- 2 teaspoons finely chopped capers
- Kosher salt and cracked black pepper
- 2 heads butter Bibb lettuce
- 1 cup Quick Pickled Sugar Snap Peas recipe follows
- Homemade Breadcrumbs for serving, recipe follows
- 3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon whole coriander seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon whole mustard seeds
- 1 cup snap peas trimmed
- 1/4 baguette cubed (about 3 cups)
- Olive oil
- Kosher salt and cracked black pepper
Instructions
- For the thousand island dressing: Combine the mayonnaise, chili sauce, ketchup, lemon juice, sweet pickles and capers together in a mixing bowl and mix until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
- For the butter lettuce salad: Quarter each head of lettuce, removing the cores. Arrange the lettuce in a serving bowl or on individual salad plates. Cut the Pickled Sugar Snap peas in half on the diagonal and toss evenly over the lettuce. Drizzle the homemade thousand island dressing over the salad and top with the Homemade Breadcrumbs.
Notes
For the Thousand Island dressing, ensure a smooth, well-emulsified texture; a touch of smoked paprika or finely minced chives can elevate its complexity. Season carefully as chili sauce and pickles add salinity. When pickling sugar snap peas, blanch them briefly or pour hot brine over them just until vibrant green to maintain their crisp bite; avoid overcooking. Always cool peas completely in the brine for maximum flavor absorption. Handle butter lettuce gently and dry thoroughly with a salad spinner to prevent dilution of the dressing. Toast breadcrumbs until golden and crisp, seasoning generously. Add them, and dress the salad, just before serving to preserve the lettuce's crispness and the breadcrumbs' crunch.