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    Home » Recipes » Sides

    Peas and Pancetta - Easy Italian Side Dish

    Published: Sep 13, 2021, Last updated: Sep 3, 2021 by Emily This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Peas and Pancetta is the simplest Italian side dish yet it's packed full of delicious flavours from the salty cured pancetta, sweet peas, garlic and fresh parsley. Serve this easy side with almost any main dish or with an Italian roast dinner.

    Peas and pancetta in a large serving bowl

    If you're looking for a quick, healthy and insanely delicious side dish this is it. Peas and pancetta is such a simple and classic Italian recipe that pretty much goes with anything.

    We like to serve it with roast meats like our Italian Roast Beef with Marsala and Onions but it's so versatile and delicious you could serve it with most meats and fish for any occasion.

    What's even better is how quick and easy it is to make (about 20 minutes total). See our full recipe below including step by step photos, tips and helpful video, enjoy!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients - what you need
    • Step by step photos and recipe instructions
    • Recipe tips and FAQs
    • More Italian side dishes you might like
    • 📖 Full Recipe

    Ingredients - what you need

    See the photo below that shows you everything you need to make this recipe plus some important tips on ingredients!

    An overhead shot of all the ingredients you need to make peas and pancetta
    • Peas - we use frozen peas to make this recipe so it can be made all year round. If you use fresh peas you'll need to add liquid (water, wine or stock) to cook them.
    • Pancetta - use the best quality pancetta you can get your hands on as this will make a huge difference in the overall flavour.
    • Garlic - fresh garlic is a must don't use garlic powder.
    • Onion - a finely chopped onion add delicious flavour, you could also use 1-2 shallots.
    • Parsley - fresh herbs are so important (don't use dried) if you don't have fresh parsley you can use fresh basil or mint or a mix of them.

    Step by step photos and recipe instructions

    Add the pancetta to a hot pan and fry until crispy (if your pancetta isn’t fatty enough you might need to add 1 tablespoon of olive oil).

    Step by step photos showing how to fry pancetta and onions

    Once crispy, remove from the pan and set aside. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil if needed and fry the chopped onion for a few minutes until soft and translucent. Once soft, add the sliced garlic and fry for 1 minute until fragrant (photos 1-4).

    Step by step photos showing how to make peas and pancetta

    Next, add the frozen peas straight to the pan and cook until defrosted and cooked all the way through, stirring often. This should only take a few minutes (photos 5 & 6).

    Once cooked, turn off the heat and stir through the cooked crispy pancetta and fresh parsley. Serve (photos 7 & 8).

    Recipe tips and FAQs

    • Peas cook fast - don't overcook the peas so they shrivel up and lose their colour. Make sure they are just cooked (taste one to check) and remove from the heat.
    • Olive oil - you may or may not need olive oil depending on how fatty your pancetta is. You can use the pancetta fat to fry the onion and garlic if there is enough.
    • Adding salt - pancetta can be very salty so taste the peas at the end of cooking and add salt as needed.
    • Fresh vs frozen peas - for convenience we use frozen peas (it also means you ca nmake this recipe all year long) which have excess moisture in them so no liquid is needed. If you use fresh peas you will need to cover them with liquid (water, wine or stock) to cook them.
    What can I serve them with?

    This side goes with almost any main dish from chicken cutlets, fish, Italian roast beef and more!

    How long does this last?

    You can store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days and it'll still taste delicious. I recommend heating it up in a pan or skillet.

    Can I freeze it?

    Yes, you can refreeze frozen peas without losing much quality so if you have leftovers and are not planning on using them in the next few days you can freeze them in suitable containers.

    A close up of peas and pancetta on a spoon

    More Italian side dishes you might like

    • Fagioli all'uccelletto - Beans in Tomato Sauce
    • Italian Green Beans In Tomato Sauce
    • Parmesan Roasted Potatoes and Broccoli
    • La Peperonata - Bell Peppers in Tomato Sauce
    • Sauteed Broccolini with Pesto, Pine Nuts & Chilli

    If you’ve tried this Peas and Pancetta recipe or any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW US on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST or sign up to our NEWSLETTER to see more of our delicious food

    📖 Full Recipe

    Step By Step Photos AboveMost of our recipes come with step by step photos, helpful tips and tricks to make it perfectly first time and even video!
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    A close up of peas and pancetta in an oval serving dish on a wooden surface
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    Peas and Pancetta

    Peas and Pancetta is the simplest Italian side dish yet it's packed full of delicious flavours from the salty cured pancetta, sweet peas, garlic and fresh parsley. Serve this easy side with almost any main dish or with an Italian roast dinner.
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine Italian
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 15 minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 231kcal
    Author Emily Kemp

    Ingredients

    • 3 cups frozen peas (460g)
    • 1 cup pancetta (125g)
    • 1 onion finely chopped
    • 1 clove garlic finely sliced
    • 1 small bunch fresh parsley chopped
    • 1-2 tablespoons olive oil (as needed)
    • salt and pepper to season

    Instructions

    • Add the pancetta to a hot pan and fry until crispy (if your pancetta isn’t fatty enough you might need to add 1 tablespoon of olive oil).
    • Once crispy, remove from the pan and set aside. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil if needed and fry the chopped onion for a few minutes until soft and translucent.
    • Once soft, add the sliced garlic and fry for 1 minute until fragrant.
    • Next, add the frozen peas straight to the pan and cook until defrosted and hot all the way through, stirring often. This should only take a few minutes.
    • Once cooked, turn off the heat and stir through the cooked crispy pancetta and fresh parsley. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed (some pancetta can be really salty so you may not need additional salt). Serve.

    Notes

    • Peas cook fast - don't overcook the peas so they shrivel up and lose their colour. Make sure they are just cooked (taste one to check) and remove from the heat.
    • Olive oil - you may or may not need olive oil depending on how fatty your pancetta is. You can use the pancetta fat to fry the onion and garlic if there is enough.
    • Adding salt - pancetta can be very salty so taste the peas at the end of cooking and add salt as needed.
    • Fresh vs frozen peas - for convenience we use frozen peas (it also means you can make this recipe all year long) which have excess moisture in them so no liquid is needed. If you use fresh peas you will need to cover them with liquid (water, wine or stock) to cook them.
    • Storage and freezing - leftovers will keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days and can be reheated. You can also freeze them in suitable containers.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 231kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 266mg | Potassium: 285mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 584IU | Vitamin C: 31mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg
    Helpful Info for All Recipes
    • I always use extra virgin olive oil in all of my recipes unless stated otherwise
    • When I use canned or jarred tomatoes of any kind I always use Cirio or Mutti brands for the best results and flavour.
    • All vegetables are medium sized unless stated otherwise
    • All recipes are tested and developed using a fan (convection) oven
    • Find out more about how nutrition is calculated.
    • Check out our must have Italian Pantry Staples.
    • You can also find all our Essential Kitchen Tools for Italian Cooking.
    Did you try this recipe?Mention @insidetherustickitchen or tag #insidetherustickitchen! We'd love you see what you're getting up to in the kitchen!

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    Ciao, we're Emily and Nathan. Our years living in Italy taught us how to cook authentic and delicious Italian food. We're here to help you put a beautiful meal on the table with tried and tested recipes you can trust. more about us!

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