Dublin Pea Salad
Ingredients:

Salad:

  • ½ sweet onion, finely chopped
  • 1 (12 oz) bag frozen peas, thawed (or substitute with lower-carb veggies like chopped green beans or zucchini, about 1.5 cups)
  • 3 hard-boiled eggs, diced
  • 5 sweet bell peppers, diced
  • 1 ½ cup aged Irish cheese, shredded or diced

Dressing:

  • ½ cup mayonnaise (sugar-free, keto-friendly)
  • ¼ cup sugar-free pickle relish (or finely chopped dill pickles)
  • 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
  • 2 teaspoons spicy mustard
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme

Preparation:

  1. Prepare the Onion:
    • In a small bowl, add the finely chopped onion and cover with about ½ cup of cold water. Allow the onions to soak while you prepare the other ingredients. This helps to reduce the sharpness of the onion.
  2. Combine Salad Ingredients:
    • In a large bowl, combine the peas (or low-carb substitute), eggs, peppers, and cheese.
    • Drain the soaked onions and add them to the bowl. Toss all the ingredients together until well combined.
  3. Prepare the Dressing:
    • In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sugar-free pickle relish, salt, spicy mustard, and dried thyme until smooth and fully combined.
  4. Mix the Salad:
    • Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss until the salad is evenly coated with the dressing.
    • Cover the salad and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.

Nutritional Information (per serving, based on 8 servings):

  • Calories: ~210 kcal
  • Fat: ~18g
  • Protein: ~7g
  • Net Carbs: ~3g (assuming partial substitution of peas with green beans or zucchini)

Tips:

  1. Peas: Peas are higher in carbs, so replacing some or all of them with lower-carb veggies like green beans, zucchini, or even cucumbers can significantly reduce the carb count.
  2. Relish: Ensure you use a sugar-free pickle relish or make your own by finely chopping dill pickles to keep the recipe keto-friendly.
  3. Cheese: Choose aged cheeses like Irish cheddar or other hard cheeses that are lower in carbs and rich in flavor.