Pasta With Peas And Bacon: Easy And Fast Italian Recipe!

Pasta with peas and bacon is an Italian recipe, quick to prepare, but really delicious.

The special thing about this dish that I love, is that it’s all cooked in one pot!

The pasta is cooked directly in the sauce like a risotto, just like Pasta e fagioli and Pasta e patate; this step makes the pasta and peas creamy, incredibly tasty, perfectly seasoned and delicious!

In short, the best pasta and peas in the world!

Peas are a springtime legume.

In fact, when they are in season, I always prepare this pasta with fresh peas.

And then in other seasons I use frozen ones, which are just as good.

Aside from being sweet and super delicious, peas also have some great health properties.

Ingredients Needed

These are the main ingredients you need for this recipe.

For the step-by-step directions and measurements, scroll down to our printable recipe card. 

• Short pasta at your pleasure
• Peas fresh or frozen
• Onion
• Basil leaves
• Vegetable broth ( 4 ⅕ cup)
• Bacon
• Salt & pepper
• Olive oil

How To Cook Pasta With Peas

Prepare the sauté: For this pasta we use a sauté of carrots and onion.

Finely chop the onion and carrot into squares. In a high-sided pot, cook over low heat with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. 

Add bacon (optional): Add it when you see that the carrot and onion have softened.

Then cook on low heat all together.

Add basil to give it more flavor.

Then add the peas: Now it is time to add the peas, you can use fresh ones or even frozen ones, cook the peas over medium heat for a couple of minutes, season with salt and pepper.

Add the broth: After sautéing the peas with the sauté and bacon for a couple of minutes, add the broth.

The broth should cover the peas entirely.

Bring to a boil and let cook, add more broth if needed.

Add the pasta: When the peas are cooked, add the pasta to the peas.

Add more broth if you see that the broth from the peas has dried up.

And let it cook with the time indicated in the pasta package.

Stir often, to prevent sticking.

Add a little olive oil for flavor and some cheese (grana, pecorino) and serve hot.

Recipe Variations Of Pasta And Peas

Vegetarian: Skip the bacon step.

Add some tomato: This is another version of pasta with peas.

Add a tomato after you sauté the peas. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How to store leftovers:

Store the pasta and peas for up to one day in the refrigerator sealed in an airtight container.

Freezing pasta and peas is not recommended; however, you can freeze only the cooked peas if you have used fresh ones.

How do you cook frozen peas for pasta?

With a couple of cups of salted water or broth, and cover, letting it cook for about twenty minutes at least

How do you cook fresh peas for pasta?

Fresh peas are only available in spring.  Here is how you should treat them while they are still in their pods.

Before cooking them, they should be shelled.

This is a very simple and fun operation: use your fingers to open the leading part of the pod and gently pull the peas apart, running your thumb over them.

Fresh peas need gentler cooking to keep all their freshness intact.

How long should the fresh peas cook?

The exact cooking time will depend on the size of the peas: taste the largest legume, if it seems soft and flavorful then it will be ready.

Are peas good for you?

Yes,

Rich in phosphorus and decidedly low in calories, peas are therefore suitable for low-calorie and hypolipidic diets. ( below all the beneficial properties of peas)

Are Frozen peas healthy?

There does not seem to be significant nutrient depletion in frozen peas compared to fresh peas.

The disadvantage is that frozen peas generally contain a certain amount of sodium or other additives;

Therefore, you should carefully examine the label.

Peas: Health Benefits

• They have diuretic properties.
• They lower blood cholesterol levels.
• Counteract constipation and detoxify.
• They are very digestible.
• They prevent diabetes.
• Useful in pregnancy.
• They are allies of heart and circulation.
• They help the immune system.
• Alleviate menopausal disorders.

As for minerals and vitamins, raw peas provide ( for 100g):

• Potassium 193 mgPhosphorus 97 mg
• Calcium 45 mg
• Iron 1,7 mg
• Vitamin C 32 mg
• Vitamin B1 0,2 mg
• Vitamin B2 0,08 mg
• Vitamin B3 2,6 mg
• Vitamin A 64 g

Among legumes, peas are the least caloric ones, in fact they have only 52 kcal for every 100 grams of fresh product.

Moreover they are low in fats and therefore recommended to those who follow a diet aimed at weight loss as well as general wellness.

After we’ve talked a bit about the properties of peas, let’s move on to our recipe.

Pasta With Peas & Bacon Recipe

Pasta with peas and bacon is a classic poor man’s dish of the Italian culinary tradition that in this variant is enriched with bacon and flavored with a light chopped onion.

In this recipe we use chopped spaghetti.

My mom always prepared it with spaghetti and I continue to prepare it this way, but if you prefer another type of pasta, feel free to choose the one you prefer.

I always recommend using short cut pasta.

Also if you want to prepare a vegetarian dish you can omit the bacon, the recipe remains delicious thanks to the sweetness of peas.

CONNECT WITH THE BELLA VITA!

Be sure to follow me on social media, so you never miss a post!

Facebook  Group | Pinterest 

See also:

• Pasta With Potatoes & Bacon: Quick Italian Recipe
• Pasta Alla Norma Recipe: Easy And Tasty Sicilian Recipe
• Authentic Italian Pasta Recipes: 34 Delicious Recipes

---

---

Enjoy