Fettuccine, Pancetta and Peas

I remember explicitly, the 7-course Italian dinner we had years ago when we lived/traveled around Europe, just like it was yesterday!

Italian food and its source represents the soul of people dedicated to their land and the sea from where the wonderful aromatic dishes emerge.

Italian's have their way with fresh pasta...  Olive oil runs through their veins, they use real Parmesan from the big wheels, their wine flows like the Tiber, they dine on a plethora of courses, they know how to make an authentic tomato sauce, and eating is their national pastime, not sports.  

They want to feed you... 
Homemade ravioli, braciole, garlic, sausages, pane, lasagna, orzo, scampi, tortellini, spaghetti with fresh clams, risotto, and on and on.

Years later, after that delicious Italian meal, we moved to the Chicago area, where Bill and I have devoured many meals at the great Italian restaurant, Al's, in Cicero.  I swear it's just like a scene out of "The Godfather" every time we've dined there, always something going on; all about food and family, the people, life. 

For icing on the cake, there was an Italian bakery next door.  My, my, my!  Mamma mia!

 
This is about as close as I can get to actually being Italian:

The rich flavor of nutty full-bodied Parmesan combined with fettuccine and pancetta is what this recipe is all about… 

Just a small amount of crispy pancetta delivers bold flavor into this dish.  We loved the combination of sweet green peas, salty pancetta, fresh garlic and Parmesan with the pasta.  Just a few ingredients, but each one is essential for the end result.  

It’s easy and fast to make ~ it will, without a doubt, be a favorite that will come to your rescue for an enjoyable dinner for family and friends.  

After all, who doesn’t like pasta?  

Try this the next time you’re thinking about the drive-through or the delivery guy!


Fettuccine, Pancetta and Peas

Ingredients:

16 ounces fettuccine
8 ounces pancetta, diced
1 small onion, chopped
1 (10-ounce) bag frozen peas
3 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup Parmesan, shaved
Salt and seasoned pepper

Method:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat.
Add pasta and cook until al dente; drain well, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.
Meanwhile, sauté pancetta in a large skillet or saucepan over medium-high heat until golden and crisp, about 6 minutes; reserve 1 tablespoon of drippings.
Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. 
In the same pan, sauté onions until softened, about 5 minutes.
Add peas and garlic and sauté for 3 minutes.
Stir in Parmesan, pasta and pancetta.
Moisten pasta with some of the reserved pasta water.
Toss to incorporate, season with salt and pepper, if necessary.
Sprinkle Parmesan shavings on top before serving.
Printable recipe


Buon appetito!

Chicken Puttanesca with Fettuccine

The delicious, piquant sauce in this dish goes wonderfully with chicken that is sautéed first then allowed to simmer in the sauce to absorb all the flavors.  The pungent tastes of the Mediterranean mingle well in this good dish.

Chicken Puttanesca is one of my favorite Italian pasta dishes!  This recipe is a quick variation of the dish using bottled pasta sauce with the requisite capers, olives and red pepper making it a savory puttanesca with a little heat.  Next time, I will be trying this tangy sauce with shrimp or a whitefish.

This is a perfect dinner for these cool fall evenings.  You can make dinner in a flash with this great homey recipe that is a wonderful company dish also!  It is truly delicious and I hope you try it!

 

Chicken Puttanesca with Fettuccine

Ingredients:

8 ounces fettuccine

2 teaspoons olive oil

4 chicken breasts, skinless, boneless

2 cups tomato-basil pasta sauce

2 teaspoons minced garlic

1/3 cup kalamata olives, sliced

2 teaspoons capers

¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper

¼ teaspoon black pepper

1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Method:

Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting fat and salt

Drain and keep warm.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.

Cut chicken in 1” pieces.  Add to skillet.

Cook chicken until lightly browned, stirring occasionally.

Stir in pasta sauce, garlic, olives, caper and peppers; bring to a simmer.

Cook 5 minutes or until chicken is done, stirring frequently.

Arrange pasta on dinner plates.

Top with chicken mixture.

Sprinkle with cheese.

4 servings

It is delicious!!!  ENJOY!!! 

Check out my friend, Linda’s blog, at My Kind of Cooking for her great recipes and the 4 cookbooks she's giving away!