This Pea Pasta is a quick and easy weeknight meal that uses a few simple ingredients to create something delicious. The peas are cooked in a little broth with plenty of olive oil and garlic until they are tender and sweet. This simple sauce is then tossed with pasta and sprinkled with a bit of crispy bacon and some grated parmesan. So yummy and so easy! You can use any pasta you like for this recipe, so it is a great standby for when there is very little food in the fridge!
Bring a large pan of water to a boil for the pasta.
Salt the water generously (at least 1 tablespoon) and add the pasta, set the timer for 1 minute less than the packet suggests.1lb/450g pasta 1 tablespoon salt
While the pasta is cooking, add the olive oil, frozen peas, broth, sliced garlic, salt, and pepper into a skillet. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes until the peas are soft. (there will still be plenty of broth left in the pan)3 tablespoon olive oil 3 cups frozen peas 1 ½ cup broth 5 garlic cloves - thinly sliced ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Use a large measuring cup to reserve 2 cups of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and add it to the peas. Cook over medium heat, turning the pasta over in the broth to finish cooking.
Add the butter and the parmesan, and continue to stir.2 tablespoon butter 1 cup grated parmesan
If the pasta starts to look dry, add ¼ cup (or more) of the pasta cooking water.
Taste the dish, adding more salt and pepper if needed, and then serve sprinkled with the bacon bits and extra parmesan.1 cup bacon bits extra parmesan -to serve
Notes
You can use any pasta shape you like here: spaghetti, linguine, fettuccine or pappardelle (as shown in the photos), farfalle, penne, rigatoni, or spiral pasta works well.
Use vegetable or chicken broth/stock.
I use storebought bacon bits, but you can fry off your own bacon if you prefer. (Then use the bacon drippings in place of the butter!)