Creamy Pasta with Bacon and Peas

This creamy pasta with bacon and peas is delicious, comforting and budget-friendly. Made with low-fat creme fraiche, the bacon and pea pasta is also quite light and just perfect for a quick midweek dinner!

📝 Ingredients

• 8 oz (250 g) pasta
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 lb (225 g) bacon lardons or pancetta
• 1 medium shallot, finely diced
• 2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes
• 1 teaspoon Italian herbs mix
• 1 1/2 cups (200 g) frozen peas
• 1/2 cup (100 g) low fat creme fraiche
• 1/3 cup (30 g) Parmesan, grated
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Bring a large pot of water to a...: Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it and cook the pasta al dente according to the instructions on the package. Reserve 2 cups of pasta water before draining.
2. 2Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large,...: Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large, deep pan or Dutch oven and fry the bacon lardons for 3-4 minutes over medium heat until slightly crispy. Remove the bacon from the pan with a slotted spoon and set it aside.
3. 3Add the shallot and cook for 1-2 minutes...: Add the shallot and cook for 1-2 minutes until softened, then stir in the garlic and red chili flakes and cook for a further minute.
4. 4Stir in the Italian herbs, frozen peas and...: Stir in the Italian herbs, frozen peas and 1 cup of the water the pasta is cooking into. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, then lower the heat and stir in the creme fraiche.
5. 5Transfer the cooked pasta to the pan and...: Transfer the cooked pasta to the pan and toss to combine. Add a bit more pasta water if it looks too dry.
6. 6Add the fried bacon and stir in the...: Add the fried bacon and stir in the grated Parmesan. Season to taste and serve immediately.