Description
Treat yourself to the ultimate comfort food with this creamy pasta dish featuring smoky bacon, sweet peas, and a velvety sauce. Perfect for weeknight dinners or cozy gatherings, it’s a quick and indulgent meal that’s bound to please everyone at the table.
Ingredients
- Pasta: 8 oz (250 g)
- Olive oil: 1 tablespoon
- Bacon lardons or pancetta: ½ lb (225 g)
- Shallot (finely diced): 1 medium
- Garlic cloves (chopped): 2 large
- Red chili flakes: ¼ teaspoon
- Italian herbs mix: 1 teaspoon
- Frozen peas: 1 ½ cups (200 g)
- Low-fat creme fraiche: ½ cup (100 g)
- Parmesan (grated): ⅓ cup (30 g)
- Salt and black pepper: To taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook the pasta al dente per package instructions. Reserve 2 cups of pasta water before draining.
- Fry the Bacon
- Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.
- Add bacon lardons and fry for 3–4 minutes until crispy.
- Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Sauté the Aromatics
- In the same pan, sauté the shallot for 1–2 minutes.
- Stir in garlic and chili flakes, cooking until fragrant.
- Add Peas and Herbs
- Stir in Italian herbs and frozen peas.
- Add 1 cup of reserved pasta water and simmer for 2–3 minutes.
- Make the Sauce
- Reduce heat and stir in creme fraiche until smooth.
- Combine Pasta
- Toss cooked pasta into the pan, adding more pasta water as needed for consistency.
- Finish the Dish
- Return bacon to the pan, mix well, and stir in Parmesan.
- Adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper.
- Serve
- Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
- For extra creaminess, add more creme fraiche or a splash of heavy cream.
- Swap bacon with turkey bacon or ham for variation.
- Adjust red chili flakes for your preferred spice level.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired