Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups green peas (frozen)
- 5.5 oz / 150 g short pasta (gnocchetti recommended)
- 1 medium white onion, diced
- 1 oz / 25 g finely grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Sauté Onions: Heat the olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and a good pinch of salt, then sauté for a few minutes until the onions become translucent. Add a splash of water occasionally to prevent the onions from burning.
- Cook Peas: Add the green peas to the pot, season with salt and black pepper, and cook for about 5 minutes until peas are tender.
- Prepare Pea Mixture: Once the peas are cooked, divide the mixture by pouring half into a blender and the other half into a bowl. Set both aside.
- Boil Pasta: Rinse the pot if needed, then fill with fresh water and bring to a boil over high heat. Add salt once boiling, then add the pasta and cook according to package instructions.
- Blend Peas: Add a ladle of pasta cooking water to the blender with the peas and blend until smooth and creamy.
- Drain Pasta: When the pasta is about 3 minutes shy of the package cooking time, drain the pasta, reserving some pasta water to adjust sauce consistency later.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Return pasta to the pot and add the pea puree from the blender, the plain peas from the bowl, the finely grated Parmesan cheese, and a ladle of reserved pasta water. Stir thoroughly to combine.
- Simmer and Finish: Allow the mixture to simmer gently while stirring for 1 to 2 minutes to finish cooking. Adjust consistency by adding pasta water as needed, aiming for a creamy sauce rather than a dry dish.
- Serve: Serve the creamy Pasta with Peas in bowls and enjoy immediately.
Notes
- Using frozen peas is convenient and they preserve their sweetness well.
- Add pasta water gradually when mixing to ensure the sauce achieves the perfect creamy consistency.
- Gnocchetti or other small short pasta shapes work best to hold the pea sauce.
- For a vegan alternative, omit Parmesan cheese or substitute with a vegan cheese variant.
- The pea mixture can be prepared in advance to save time.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
