Mini Shell Pasta with Creamy Smoked Bacon & Pea Sauce

By LaurenCocch16

Ingredients

• 10 slices smoked bacon, finely sliced
• small bunch fresh mint, finely chopped
• sea salt & freshly ground pepper
• 1 lb dried mini shells (or other pasta)
• olive oil
• pat of butter
• 2 cups frozen peas
• 2 Tbsp heavy cream
• 1 lemon
• 6 oz Parmesan cheese, finely grated

Preparation

Step 1

1) Bring large pan of salted water to boil.
2) Add pasta & cook according to package directions.
3) Heat lug of olive oil & pat of butter in frying pan.
4) Add bacon, sprinkle with pepper, and fry until golden & crisp.
5) Add frozen peas & toss the pan. After 1 minute, add the heavy cream & mint to the pan.
6) Drain the pasta in colander over large bowl, reserving some of the cooking water.
7) Add pasta to the frying pan.
8) Halve the lemon and squeeze juice over pasta.
9) When liquid is starting to bubble away, remove pan from heat.
10) If the sauce is too thick for you, add splash of reserved cooking water to thin it out.
11) Add Parmesan cheese & shake the pan to mix it in.