CREAMY PASTA WITH SMOKED BACON AND PEAS

Creamy Pasta With Smoked Bacon and Peas image

This elegant riff on a childhood favorite came to The Times in 2009 by way of Jamie Oliver, the British chef and cookbook author. It was featured in his cookbook "Jamie's Food Revolution: Rediscover How to Cook Simple, Delicious, Affordable Meals," and it's a favorite of his daughters, Poppy and Daisy. It's wholesome (no powdered cheese!), and it can be ready in about 15 minutes.

Provided by Alex Witchel

Categories dinner, easy, quick, pastas, main course

Time 15m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

Sea salt
10 slices smoked bacon or pancetta
1 pound dried mini-shell or other small pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
Freshly ground black pepper
2 cups frozen peas
2 tablespoons crème fraîche or heavy cream
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint leaves
Juice of 1 lemon
6 ounces finely grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

Bring a large pot of lightly salted to a boil. Meanwhile, cut sliced bacon crosswise into thin slivers, or slice pancetta into julienne. Add pasta to boiling water and cook to taste.
While pasta is cooking, place a large skillet over medium heat, and add 2 tablespoons olive oil and the butter. Add bacon or pancetta and a sprinkling of pepper, and fry until golden and crisp. Immediately add frozen peas and stir for a minute or two. Add crème fraîche or heavy cream and chopped mint.
Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water, and drain the pasta. Add pasta to the skillet and stir. Add lemon juice, and adjust salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a simmer, then remove from heat. The mixture should be thick; if desired, a splash of the pasta water may be added to the sauce to thin it slightly. Add Parmesan and stir to mix. If desired, serve with a green salad.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 699, UnsaturatedFat 19 grams, Carbohydrate 66 grams, Fat 35 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 29 grams, SaturatedFat 14 grams, Sodium 766 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams, TransFat 0 grams