Frozen Spring Pea Pasta
Inspired by the Oscar nominated songs I have decided to seek Happiness today and let the grief go…..at least for now. We all deserve a break from our grief and why not do some happy things in the process? Plus it has been one long snow storm in my neck of the woods and anything to break this cabin fever and help me ease into spring will be a welcomed delight. What makes you happy?
For me, it starts with planning a garden. I am currently taking a class, “The Hungry Gardener” at the famous Longwood Gardens which is just a mile from my house. The class is filled with a variety of interesting people including a private chef, a health coach and a young couple living on a 60 acre farm. We all have one thing in common and that is the desire to grow our own food. I also signed on with a web based program offered by the Territorial seed company. I can plan my entire garden on the computer complete with alerts and reminders about crop rotation, frost dates, when to start and plant seeds, etc. It’s fun and makes me happy. I can’t wait to harvest what I sow.
In the meantime, I am eating frozen peas. It’s OK as they are the one vegetable that tastes quite good directly from the freezer to the pot. Nothing could be easier or tastier than this old-fashioned Italian specialty: Pasta with Peas. I bet you have all the ingredients right in your pantry and freezer. Happy Spring!
Spring Peas & Pasta
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: serves 4 1x
Ingredients
1 ½ cups ditalini pasta or small shells
1 cup frozen petite peas
1-tablespoon olive oil
1-tablespoon butter
1 sweet onion, chopped
1 large clove garlic, minced
2 slices prosciutto, thinly sliced
1 (14 oz) can chicken broth
¼ cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, optional
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted boiling water according to package directions. During last 5 minutes of cooking time add frozen peas.
- Meanwhile, in large skillet, over medium heat, combine olive oil and butter.
- Add onions; cook 5 to 8 minutes or until softened. The onions should not get brown.
- Add garlic and prosciutto; cook, stirring for 1 minute.
- Add broth.
- Drain pasta and peas; add to skillet. Cook until just heated through.
- Add cheese and parsley.
- Spoon into serving bowls and top with additional cheese and parsley and some freshly ground pepper, if desired.
Notes
Season as you go with salt and fresh pepper. You can also add a pinch of crushed red pepper when you’re heating the olive oil and butter
- Category: pasta
- Method: stovetop
Keywords: peas, main dish, Italian, old world, easy dinner