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Wagon Wheel Pasta with Bacon, Peas & Ricotta
This is a great quick weeknight dinner or weekend meal when the whole family needs to eat quickly! The salty, crunchy bits of bacon flavor the entire bowl, with little dollops of creamy ricotta melting throughout. I especially love to make this in spring when the peas are tender and fresh, but it’s equally satisfying with frozen peas for a warm and filling bowl. The beans hide amongst the pasta for a nice little healthy addition, too!
Wagon Wheel Pasta
Ingredients:
1 pound wagon wheel-shaped pasta
¼ cup olive oil, divided
½ lb bacon, chopped
2 shallots, chopped (about ½ cup)
1 garlic clove, minced
½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
½ cup ricotta cheese
2 cups fresh spring peas
1 cup cannellini beans, cooked
½ cup parmesan cheese
¼ cup flat leaf parsley, leaves and tender stems minced
Red chile flake (optional)
Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper
Directions:
•Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until 1 minute shy of package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water and drain.
•In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the bacon and cook, stirring frequently, until golden and crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon to a plate, adding back to the pan any drippings that accumulate – don’t waste the flavor!
•Add the shallots to the pan with the oil and rendered bacon fat and cook until soft, 2-3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute, being careful not to let it brown. Add the broth and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any caramelized brown bits at the bottom of the pan. Stir in the peas and beans and simmer until tender and heated through, about 2 minutes.
•Remove pan from the heat, then add the cooked pasta to the peas mixture with the remaining olive oil, ricotta cheese, and a nice splash (start with 2-3 tablespoons and add more as needed) of the reserved pasta water and stir to coat – the starch in the pasta water will help create a luscious sauce that coats every noodle! Scatter the bacon and parmesan overtop, toss and taste for seasoning. Transfer to a large serving bowl – grown ups may want to add a little chile flake to yours – garnish with the fresh parsley, and enjoy!
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