Saturday, January 5, 2013

Bacon and Pea Pasta

If you ask me what I have at all times in my freezer, the answer would definitely be frozen peas. Sure, I'll get my hands on fresh peas if I can, but most of the year, that really isn't a tangible reality. For most quick meals, having a bag of these frozen green jewels helps add vegetables to a simple pasta, or make an easy side dish, simply complemented by a little butter and a squeeze of lemon juice. Adding more vegetables to our everyday diets also seems to fit quite nicely with all these new year's resolutions, doesn't it? This pasta dish is garnished with crispy prosciutto and flavoured with Canadian bacon so the healthy points are not entirely there...but the delicious points definitely are.



Bacon and Pea Pasta
Serves 2 - 4
6 oz fusilli
2 tsp olive oil
2 slices Canadian bacon, diced
4 cloves of garlic, minced
2 cups of frozen peas

Salt and freshly ground pepper
2 thin prosciutto slices 2 cups packed arugula
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan


Cook pasta according to package instructions, setting aside 2 tablespoons of pasta water. Add oil to pan on medium high heat. Cook for 2 minutes. Add garlic, saute for 1 minute. Add peas and pinch of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes.

In the meantime, place
prosciutto on a baking sheet. Baked in 400°F oven until crispy, about 10 minutes. Break into pieces and set aside.

Add cooked, drained pasta to pan, with reserved pasta water. Stir in arugula until just wilted. Top with Parmesan. Transfer to serving platter, top with
prosciutto. Enjoy!

14 comments:

Lawyer Loves Lunch said...

Heh, we always have frozen peas too but only because they're quick additions to little man's lunch. I'll definitely have to add them to our pasta rotation too! Yay for quick pantry-freezer friendly recipes :)

Beth said...

Your salad looks delicious! I'm always looking for new ways to serve arugula, and yours looks like a winner.

Suzanne Perazzini said...

I always have frozen peas in my freezer too. They are such a handy addition to so many dishes. I make a similar hot pasta but with the addition of cream.

La Table De Nana said...

Truly...this is our kind of dish..all favored things...bacon..pasta..prosciutto..
I always have those little jewels in our freezer too.
I love them incorporated in basmati rice also..even in our carbonara:-)

Barbara said...

Everyone has frozen peas in their freezer and I love adding them to any number of dishes. (I also take that frozen pack and put it on a sore ankle!) I love the idea of this salad; so many great flavors.
Super photo!

Jennifer Kendall said...

i love having frozen peas around, they are so handy and a wonderful way of adding a burst of sweetness to a dish! your pasta sounds fantastic, i wish i was eating it right now!

Unknown said...

Love this salad, bacon&peas in a pasta salad=yummy!!

Asiya @ Chocolate and Chillies said...

Frozen peas and corn are something I always have in my freezer. I usually don't like frozen vegetables but peas and corn always turn out well. Love the simplicity of your pasta!

Asiya @ Chocolate and Chillies said...

Frozen peas and corn are something I always have in my freezer. I usually don't like frozen vegetables but peas and corn always turn out well. Love the simplicity of your pasta!

Jeane M. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Chocolate Shavings said...

Jeane M. : Thanks - and let me know what you think!

Lady-Pa said...

looks so so yummy


Lady-Pa

xoxo

Cooking Quidnunc said...

Delicious meal!

kale said...

this recipe looks delish and it's a great use of frozen peas!

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