I love green peas. I always have a bag of peas in the freezer – one of the few frozen vegetables I enjoy – and we have them several times a week. But I did not always like them. Growing up, Mother would serve canned Le Sueur peas and when I would get to the table and see those little grayish orbs on the plate, I would almost throw up. So, when I left home, I avoided peas completely until I discovered frozen green peas.
There are so many things you can do with green peas. Some of my favorites are in a tarragon cream sauce served in a pastry shell; mixed with sautéed pearl onions; or plain with butter, salt, and pepper. And this one – Green Peas with Bacon. Sweet Peas with Prosciutto (Piselli al Prosciutto) is a classic Roman side dish, but I like this one because of the smoky taste the bacon gives the peas, and it is a little more budget friendly. And I am in the South and we LOVE our bacon!
Here is how I make it. Using two slices of thick-cut Applewood smoked bacon, cut into lardons about 1/3-inch small dice. Toss them into a sauté pan and cook until the fat has rendered out and the bacon is cooked and slightly crispy. Be careful to not let the heat get too high or let the lardons get too crisp. Remove them from the pan with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
Wipe the pan clean and add 2 tablespoons of butter. When it is melted and heated, add a chopped shallot and sauté for 2 – 3 minutes on medium heat until translucent but not browned. Then add a 10-ounce bag of frozen peas, ½ cup of chicken stock and the bacon lardons. Cook on medium low heat until the peas are cooked through, about 4 – 5 minutes. Add pepper to taste and serve.
And that is it! Easy-Peasy (get it). I hope you will enjoy.