As any foodie gal knows, you can’t help but be inspired when discovering a dish that speaks to your soul. The other night when meeting friends at Gateway’s trendy A Mano Italian restaurant, I fell hard for their pillowy Garganelli Bianco pasta dish. Tossed with earthy truffle butter, velvety cream and sweet petite peas, each bite was pure indulgence.
I was instantly obsessed with the unique truffle and pea combo. The creative cook in me just had to recreate the restaurant experience for my fam. While fresh garganelli and prociutto eluded me, penne and bacon would have to do!
Sometimes we all need a cozy comfort food that’s easy to throw together but still feels indulgent. Enter: my new Creamy Truffle Pasta with Bacon and Peas – a weeknight dinner everyone will love that won’t bust your budget or your schedule.
While truffle pasta seems ultra fancy, I’m here to tell you that with a few smart shortcuts, you too can achieve truffle bliss for your crew. The secret is using truffle cream or truffle oil instead of fresh truffles. Truffle oil is my fave hack because it gives you big truffle bang for your buck and keeps for months in the fridge. A little goes a long way to infuse creamy pasta with earthy mushroom goodness. I use the tartufi Jimmy bottled cream sauce for this one., The Truffle and Gorgonzola Cheese hit the spot!
The bacon takes this dish over the top with its crispy bits mingling with the pasta. I got the Purefoods bacon bits as its easier to cook in a jiffy. As any mom knows, kids will eat just about anything if it has bacon on it! And fresh peas add a pop of color and sweet veggie flavor that sneaks extra nutrition onto their plates without them even realizing. Who says comfort food can’t also be somewhat healthy?
Making homemade meals on weeknights is a challenge, I know. That’s why I promise this recipe comes together in under 30 minutes with very little active time required. Just prep your ingredients while the water boils and your pasta cooks, then simply toss everything together. Done and done! No fancy cooking techniques or advanced degrees in Italian cuisine needed here. Even this mom can follow three easy steps.
Without further ado, let me share the secrets to your new favorite easy weeknight indulgence. Read on for all the deets on crafting Creamy Truffle Pasta with Bacon and Peas.
Recipe: Creamy Truffle Pasta with Bacon and Peas
INGREDIENTS
- 400 gms. pasta* (I used Del Monte penne)
- 250 gms. Purefoods bacon bits
- 2 tbsp Tartufi Jimmy Truffle Sauce
- 2 Nestle All Purpose Cream
- 1/2 cup pasta water
- 100 gms green peas (I used Jolly Peas)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/8 tsp crushed red pepper (optional)
How to make the Truffle Pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook chopped bacon until crisp. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside, reserving 2 Tbsp bacon fat in the pan. Add in the peas and saute until heated through and bright green. Stir in the All Purpose cream and pasta water; lower the heat and simmer gently 5 minutes or until it reduces and thickens enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon. Be careful not to let it boil. Add the truffle cream and mix. Lower heat. To further cut corners, or if this is what you have, you can probably use Carbonara cream instead of All Purpose cream.
Drain the pasta in a colander; shake off excess water. Add the hot pasta to the skillet. Toss to coat the pasta with the cream sauce. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Adjust seasonings as needed.
Divide the pasta among individual plates; finish with a few grinds of black pepper, if desired.
For bonus points, pair it with a robust red wine like Chianti or Cabernet Sauvignon. A salad and bread round out the meal nicely. Dig in and indulge your tastebuds – you deserve it!
Making this truffle pasta recipe is easy, but the payoff is huge. The rich creaminess from the heavy cream coupled with earthy truffle notes will have everyone thinking you slaved away for hours in the kitchen. Shhh…our little secret is it only takes 30 minutes, tops.
You’ll be pleased as parmesan to discover how well leftovers reheat with a splash of pasta water. Meal prepping has never been so indulgent. Store individual servings in containers or ziptop bags then pop them in the microwave when hunger strikes midweek. No need to cook again!
So what are you waiting for? Round up your crew, grab your ingredients, and start cooking up some self-care tonight. You won’t regret treating yourself and your loved ones to this easy gourmet pasta dinner. Who knows – it might just become your new favorite recipe!
Happy cooking and bon appétit! Be sure to share snaps of your Creamy Truffle Pasta creations on social media tagging @relaxinglikeamom. I’d love to see your handiwork.
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Creamy Truffle Pasta with Bacon and Peas
Ingredients
Shopping List:
- 400 grams penne or other short cut pasta
- 6 strips bacon, chopped
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 2 All Purpose cream
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp truffle cream
Pantry Items:
- Salt
- Black pepper
- 1/4 cup pasta water
Tools:
- Large skillet or saute pan
- Whisk or wooden spoon
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium high heat until crispy. Remove bacon from pan but reserve drippings.
- Add a drizzle of cooking oil to the bacon drippings in the pan. Sauté peas until just tender, about 2 minutes.
- Add All Purpose Cream and pasta water. Add the truffle cream.
- Add pasta and toss.
- Turn heat to medium low. Add peas, bacon, Parmesan, and parsley. Season with salt, pepper, and toss to combine.
- Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Serve immediately, garnished with extra parsley and Parmesan. Enjoy!
