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!
Enjoy the read!
Lawyer Loves Lunch
January 6, 2013 at 10:51 pm (12 years ago)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
January 7, 2013 at 4:09 pm (12 years ago)Your salad looks delicious! I’m always looking for new ways to serve arugula, and yours looks like a winner.
Suzanne Perazzini
January 7, 2013 at 9:52 pm (12 years ago)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
January 7, 2013 at 10:45 pm (12 years ago)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
January 8, 2013 at 9:59 am (12 years ago)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!
Jenn Kendall
January 8, 2013 at 11:11 am (12 years ago)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!
Patty
January 8, 2013 at 3:02 pm (12 years ago)Love this salad, bacon&peas in a pasta salad=yummy!!
Asiya @ Chocolate and Chillies
January 9, 2013 at 11:14 pm (12 years ago)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
January 9, 2013 at 11:15 pm (12 years ago)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.
January 15, 2013 at 11:15 pm (12 years ago)You had me at bacon in pasta dear, this is simply delish. Love to have this for dinner. 😀 Got my eye on your next posts.
Chocolate Shavings
January 16, 2013 at 6:48 am (12 years ago)Jeane M. : Thanks – and let me know what you think!
Lady-Pa
January 19, 2013 at 4:35 pm (12 years ago)looks so so yummy
Lady-Pa
xoxo
Natalie
January 21, 2013 at 11:09 pm (12 years ago)Delicious meal!
kale
January 26, 2013 at 12:59 am (12 years ago)this recipe looks delish and it’s a great use of frozen peas!