Minty Pea Salad

I found this recipe, while looking for a fresh summer side dish, which used some of my mint.  I have a large pot, on my porch, and need reasons to use it!
My family enjoyed this as a side to some grilled chicken.

Ingredients

• 1 lb. frozen peas
• 1 fresh lemon 
• 1 small shallot, minced (about 2 Tbsp) 
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 tsp salt 
• Freshly cracked pepper 
• 3-4 sprigs fresh mint 

Instructions

1. Let the peas thaw in a colander to allow excess moisture to drain away. Rinsing briefly with cool water will expedite the thawing process.
2. While the peas are thawing, prepare the lemon and shallot vinaigrette. Zest the lemon using a zester or a small holed cheese grater. Be sure to scrape off just the yellow zest and none of the bitter white pith. Set the zest aside, then squeeze about 2 tablespoons of the juice into a separate bowl.
3. Peel the dry, papery skin from the shallot, then mince it finely. Add it to the bowl with the lemon juice, along with 2 Tbsp olive oil, 1/4 tsp salt, and some freshly cracked pepper (5-10 cranks of a pepper mill). Whisk the ingredients together until combined, then set aside.
4. Rinse the mint to remove any dirt or debris. Pull the leaves from the stems and then slice into thin strips (or chop roughly).
5. Add the thawed peas to a large bowl along with the vinaigrette, mint, and a hefty pinch of the lemon zest. Stir to combine, then taste and add more zest if desired. Serve immediately, or refrigerate to allow the flavors to blend.