When Mr OC and I wed, we had a wonderful caterer who really put on a very fine spread.  Everything was delicious, but one of the things that really stood out from the rest was the wonderful pea and cos salad.  I have since tried to recreate this on many occasions and I admit that I don’t think I am quite there yet.  I think crème fraîche and parmesan were involved somewhere along the line.
However, the other day I saw a cos lettuce for sale and so bought it, but then promptly forgot to purchase either crème fraîche or parmesan ( I blame shopping with two small children for my terrible ability to go out for a pint of milk and return with a pot of basil and a piece of steak, but no milk, but I don’t really think they are to blame).  So I had a go with what I had in the fridge and the garden and although it doesn’t reach the sublime level of the salad of our wedding day it is really nice, especially with a good roast chicken or a slab of rare steak.
I will keep trying with my recreation of the original recipe, so you may well see another recipe for this appearing at some point in the future.  However, for now, here is a version.  If you do have some parmesan in the fridge then shave some over just before serving, and feel free to replace the yoghurt with crème fraîche.  I promise to try harder next time I go shopping.
1 head of cos lettuce, washed and dried
3 or 4 handfuls of frozen or fresh peas, boiled until tender (2 or 3 minutes in boiling water)
150g Total greek yoghurt
handful of fresh mint, chopped
juice of ½ lemon
salt and pepper
Method
Arrange the washed salad leaves on a platter and artfully pour over the peas. Â Mix together the yoghurt, chopped mint and lemon juice and season to taste and dollop over the peas and lettuce.
Dig in and enjoy!
Yum ! I am making this salad this evening and that was me you saw shopping – fifteen packets of raisins no bread and six cookbooks – lovely blog ! x
Oh thank you Belgravia Wife and I am glad I am not alone with the shopping thing!
Great minds think alike. I posted peas today as well (not to mention photography of dish on a slatted surface). I’m sure your yogurt in lieu of creme fraiche is just fine…more than fine. I looks delicious!
Tracy, I am popping over to have a look right now.
Kath – is this yogurt still there from your original stash? This does indeed sound like a nice salad but reminds me that I haven’t yet sown any peas – aghh!
Sorry Choclette, I didn’t mean to remind you of jobs yet to be done and no, this is not from the original stash of yogurt. I have an unhealthy addiction to Total yoghurt and if I don’t have at least two pots in the fridge at any one time I get a bit jittery.
Kath, This salad looks delicious. I love peas, but my husband doesn’t. Really, who doesn’t love peas?
Oh Michele, not loving peas – that’s bonkers.
Kath, I know the feeling – I haven’t stopped using it either. I finally made the Jerusalem artichoke dish from Ann Carr’s book – it was really good and had the added bonus of getting me back into making mayonnaise, which I hadn’t done for a couple of years.
Brilliant, I am really glad about that. I think I am going to try that recipe with my Charlotte potatoes when they are ready, it does sound delicious.
MMMMMMM, Kath!!
This salad looks superb!! I so love cos lettuce: it’s crispy & crunchy & all of the added ingredients give so much flavour too!
MMMMMMMM,…lovely fod!
Thank you Sophie.
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