This creamy pea salad with bacon, cheddar, and herbs is a bright, make-ahead side for spring. Serious Eats / Robby Lozano Why It Works Quickly blanching fresh peas (or thoroughly drying thawed frozen peas) keeps them tender and bright without watering down the creamy dressing. Soaking the sliced red onion in vinegar mellows its sharp bite while adding acidity that balances the richness of the mayo- and sour cream–based dressing. When the weather starts to warm and the days get a little longer, certain dishes reliably make their return, whether it's on Easter tables, at spring potlucks, or tucked into a backyard picnic spread. This creamy pea salad is one of them. It's easy to make ahead, easy to scale for a crowd, and always a hit. It's a classic American side, with versions made with peas, mayonnaise, cheese, and some form of pork appearing at potlucks and family gatherings for decades.…