Peas and pancetta is a quick and easy recipe that you can serve as a side dish for white meat dishes or for steamed and baked fish fillets. To make it, you can always use fresh peas or canned peas, although the fresh variety this time of year adds a very special taste to this dish. If you use fresh peas, the sweetness is even more pronounced than the flavor of pancetta. A variation that further enhances the sweet taste of the peas? Smoked bacon instead of pancetta: This combination creates a very pleasant contrast between sweet and smoked flavors!
A great peas sauce for pasta
Who ever said peas and pancetta could only be a side dish? It also works perfectly as a sauce for a weeknight pasta dish. For a pasta sauce, prepare the peas as you would in the recipe below, and then boil the pasta in plenty of salted water. Drain the pasta a minute before the end of the cooking instructions on the package. Add to the pan with the peas and pancetta, stirring quickly like you would for a risotto. Add a sprinkling of pepper at the end for a satisfying pasta dish. This recipe is great for the kids – plus it’s a great way to get them to eat peas!
Peas savory pie
A side dish, a sauce for a plate of pasta… The possibilities for peas and pancetta don’t stop there! How about a savory pie with peas and pancetta? For this recipe, add 9 oz ricotta cheese to the peas and bacon. Mix until combined and top a layer of savory pie dough with the filling. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes in a preheated oven. And that's not all! If you add this side dish to some beaten eggs with a little parmesan cheese and some fresh basil leaves, you’ve got a frittata with all the flavors of spring!
The Recipe: Peas and Pancetta
Ingredients:
12 oz peas, 4 oz pancetta or bacon, diced (regular or smoked), 1 small onion, sliced, Extra-virgin olive oil, Salt, Parsley, chopped, Vegetable stock
Making peas and pancetta:
Soak peas in fresh water for about 30 minutes and peel. In the meantime, clean and slice the onion to fry in a pan with a little oil; once golden brown, add diced pancetta. Add the rinsed peas and a few ladles of broth. Cook for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once the peas are tender, turn off the heat and add salt to taste. Finish with a sprinkling of chopped parsley. Serve immediately.