A super quick meal: peas and pasta
August 3, 2010
If you’re not in the mood for something super savory, or don’t have time to cook up a full meal, I’ve put together a quick and easy recipe that only takes about twenty minutes from concept to sitting down at the table. No photos this time because the pasta never makes it to the table in time for a photo shoot!
Pick your pasta: I love mezze penne and I love al dente: 7-9 minutes.
1/2 c sweet peas: 3 minutes or less in the microwave. I use frozen peas with pearl onions. The steam in a bag type is a total cheat, but they still taste quite good.
1/2 tomato, diced
2 handfuls of finely shredded cheese per bowl.
Olive oil
After cooking the pasta, toss with some olive oil, the peas, and half the tomatoes. While the pasta’s still hot, start adding the shredded cheese so that it gets webby, but add with a light hand. I’m normally the kind to pile on cheese like there’s no tomorrow but this dish is best with just enough cheese to bind the pasta lightly. Top with the remaining diced tomatoes and serve.
I’m pretty sure this pasta would be great with asparagus as well, but I almost always have peas on hand and asparagus has been selling for $3/lb these days.
Next time, I’ll finely dice mozzarella with fresh basil to top the pasta as a caprese salad garnish.
I love asparagus with pasta. The peas with pearl onions is pretty inspired, though.
For the asparagi(? plural of asparagus, right?), it’s easy to snap a few fresh spears into pieces. Put them in a colander or strainer. When the pasta water comes to a full boil, toss the pasta in. Then gently set the colander (or strainer) into the boiling water on top of the pasta and let is sit there for just a couple of minutes. When the asparagus pieces have turned bright green, lift them out of the water, let the hot water drain back off into the pot, and then quickly rinse the veggies off under running cold water to stop the cooking process. This gives you really nice, crisp asparagus to toss with your pasta.