Creamy Pasta with Bacon and Peas

#623       Comment on this recipe.

Pre-Notes

Consider steaming fresh English peas to use in this dish!

Ingredients

1. 1 lb dried small pasta of your choice
2. 1 1/2 T butter
3. 1 lb bacon, diced
4. 2 shallots or 1/4 white onion, minced
5. 1 - 1/2 c frozen peas, thawed
6. 1 1/4 c half and half
7. salt to taste
8. pepper to taste
9. 1 c pecarino romano cheese, grated, additional for serving
10. tomato diced, for garnish

Instructions

1. Cook pasta until al dente, according to package directions.
2. In the meantime, in a large pan, cook bacon over medium heat unti for about 5 minutes.
3. Add shallots to pan, and continue to cook until bacon is almost crispy.
4. Drain most of the bacon grease.
5. Add butter to pan.
6. Add peas, half and half, cheese, salt, and pepper.
7. Simmer gently. until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.
8. Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 c of the pasta water.
9. Add pasta to the sauce, toss to combine, adding a little bit of the reserved pasta water, only if necessary.
10. Serve in individual bowls and sprinkle some freshly grated Parmesan
11. Garnish with diced tomatoes, if desired.