Creamy Pasta with Peas: A Simple, Delicious Recipe
This creamy pasta with peas recipe is a quick, easy, and delicious meal perfect for a weeknight dinner. It's packed with flavor, uses readily available ingredients, and is sure to become a family favorite. This recipe is easily adaptable to your preferences, so feel free to experiment with different cheeses or add-ins!
Ingredients You'll Need:
- 1 pound pasta (penne, rotini, or your favorite shape)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese (optional, but adds a great salty bite)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions: A Step-by-Step Guide
Get Started:
- Boil the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
Building the Sauce:
-
Sauté aromatics: While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Don't let the garlic burn!
-
Add the peas: Stir in the frozen peas and cook for 2-3 minutes until heated through.
-
Create the creamy sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and let it simmer gently for about 5 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.
-
Cheese Please!: Stir in the Parmesan and Pecorino Romano cheeses (if using) until melted and smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Combining & Serving:
-
Combine pasta and sauce: Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss to coat evenly. If the sauce is too thick, add a little bit of the reserved pasta water until you reach your desired consistency.
-
Garnish & Serve: Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley.
Tips & Variations:
- Add protein: For a heartier meal, add cooked chicken, shrimp, or sausage to the sauce.
- Spice it up: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little heat.
- Use fresh peas: If you have fresh peas, you can use those instead of frozen. Just add them to the skillet with the garlic.
- Different cheeses: Experiment with other cheeses like mozzarella, provolone, or fontina.
- Lemon zest: A little lemon zest adds a bright, fresh flavor.
- Make it vegan: Substitute the heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk for a delicious vegan version. Nutritional yeast can add a cheesy flavor.
SEO Keywords:
This recipe is optimized for keywords like: pasta with peas recipe, creamy pasta recipe, easy pasta recipe, weeknight dinner, simple pasta recipe, pea pasta, one-pot pasta, pasta with peas and cream.
This detailed recipe, complete with variations and SEO considerations, should attract a wide audience searching for delicious and easy pasta recipes. Remember to use high-quality images to further enhance your blog post's appeal.
