Petite peas are a favorite vegetable at our house. Dress them up for the spring holiday by adding some shallots, pearl onions and pancetta…
So fancy!
I found these beautiful little English sweet peas and fresh pearl onions, but you can certainly use frozen petite peas and pearl onions as well.
You will need:
2 16 ounce packages of fresh peas ( frozen peas will also work)
1 16 ounce package of pearl onions
2 shallots; sliced
5 quarter-inch thick slices of pancetta; diced
2 tablespoons of olive oil
Freshly ground salt and pepper
This dish can be made earlier in the day and re-heated just before serving.
You will need a large sauté pan.
Start by sautéing the pancetta with two tablespoons of olive oil for about eight minutes over a medium flame. While the pancetta is cooking, you can boil the pearl onions for about five minutes. Drain them into a colander and rinse with cold water. Cut the end off of the onions and pop them out of the skins. Discard the skins.
When the pancetta is crispy, remove it to a plate. Place the sliced shallots into the pan with the drippings from the pancetta add the pearl onions and let them cook for about three minutes. Now you can add the peas and three tablespoons of water. Let the veggies cook for about ten to twelve minutes, stirring occasionally. When the peas have brightened in color and seem to have softened a bit, turn off the flame, season with freshly ground pepper and a dash of salt. Stir in the pancetta and serve!
Gotta love these Spring Veggies:)
For a printable instruction guide click here English Peas with Pearl Onions and Pancetta
Scroll through the photo gallery for a quick how to:
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- Gotta love fresh spring veggies!
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- Pancetta is a delicious addition if you are looking to take these veggies to the next level.
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- Slice up two shallots and five 1/4 inch thick slices of pancetta .
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- If you are using fresh pearl onions, boil them for about 5 minutes with the skins on,
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- After the onions have boiled for 5 minutes, remove from the heat and drain the water. You can cut the small end off the onion and gently pop the onion out of the skin.
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- You will be left with a big pile of skins…and the beautiful little pearl onions. Discard the skins.
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- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large sauté pan. Add the pancetta and sauté until browned, this should take about 8 minutes.
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- Remove the pancetta to a plate.
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- Sauté the shallots in the drippings from the pancetta for about a minute. Then you can add the pearl onions.
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- Let them come together for another minute…
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- Add the fresh or frozen peas and let them cook until slightly softened. This could take about 10 minutes.
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- Season with freshly ground pepper and just a bit of salt.
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- Turn off the heat and stir in the crispy pancetta…so delicious!
Chowfancy 