Quick & Flavorful Ina Garten Snap Peas With Pancetta Recipe

Snap peas burst with vibrant green crunch and delightful sweetness that transforms ordinary vegetable sides into culinary excitement.

These slender pods represent summer’s crisp bounty, packed with nutrition and a satisfying snap when bitten.

Garden-fresh snap peas radiate a tender-crisp texture that elevates simple meals with minimal preparation.

Delicate yet robust, these vegetables offer incredible versatility for home cooks seeking quick and impressive accompaniments.

Their natural sweetness pairs beautifully with salty ingredients, creating harmonious flavor combinations that dance across your palate.

Light cooking methods preserve their vibrant color and satisfying crispness, ensuring maximum nutritional benefits and gustatory pleasure.

Balanced between tender and crunchy, snap peas invite culinary creativity and spontaneous kitchen inspiration: try them now!

Why Snap Peas With Pancetta Feel Crisp and Savory

• Boost Veggie Excitement: This recipe transforms ordinary snap peas into a spectacular side dish that makes vegetables irresistibly delicious and fun to eat.
• Quick Culinary Magic: Preparing this dish takes less than 20 minutes, delivering restaurant-quality results with minimal cooking skills required.
• Flavor Explosion Technique: The combination of crispy pancetta, tangy vinaigrette, and salty Pecorino Romano creates a complex flavor profile that dances across your taste buds with every bite.
• Versatile Entertaining Charm: Perfect for summer gatherings, elegant dinner parties, or a sophisticated weeknight meal that elevates simple ingredients into something extraordinary.

The Ingredients for Ina’s Snap Peas With Pancetta

• Snap Peas: Sweet and crisp green vegetable with a delicate crunch, best when fresh and bright green with no blemishes.
• Red Onion: Sharp and tangy allium that adds bright color and zesty flavor to the salad.

• Pancetta, Pecorino Romano Cheese: Salty Italian cured meat and robust sheep's milk cheese that provide rich, savory depth to the dish.

• Olive Oil, Lemon Juice, Champagne Vinegar (or White Wine Vinegar): Bright, acidic liquid components that create a smooth, balanced dressing to enhance and bind the salad ingredients.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasoning agents that heighten and balance the overall flavor profile of the dish.

How to Sauté Snap Peas With That Pancetta Pop

Step 1: Prepare Boiling Station

Fill a large pot with 2 to 3 quarts of water and bring to a rolling boil. Add salt to enhance flavor. Simultaneously, create an ice bath in a separate large bowl.

Step 2: Blanch Snap Peas

• Drop snap peas into boiling water
• Cook for 10 to 15 seconds
• Quickly transfer to ice water
• Drain and slice each snap pea lengthwise

Step 3: Crisp Pancetta Perfectly

Heat a medium sauté pan and add pancetta with a splash of water. Cook on medium heat, stirring occasionally until edges turn golden and crispy. Allow fat to render completely.

Step 4: Whip Up Zesty Vinaigrette

• Olive oil
• Fresh lemon juice
• Champagne vinegar

Whisk ingredients until smooth and well-blended.

Step 5: Create Vibrant Salad Mix

• Drizzle vinaigrette over sliced snap peas
• Sprinkle crumbled pancetta
• Add finely chopped red onion
• Grate Pecorino Romano cheese
• Season with salt and pepper

Toss ingredients gently to distribute flavors evenly.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy

Let salad rest at room temperature for a few minutes to allow flavors to mingle. Serve as a delightful side dish that bursts with fresh, tangy goodness.

Tips for Crispy Snap Peas and Golden Bits of Pancetta

• Blanch with Precision: Keep snap peas in boiling water for just 10-15 seconds to preserve their crisp texture and vibrant green color.
• Select Premium Pancetta: Opt for high-quality pancetta to elevate the dish's flavor profile and add a delightful salty crunch.
• Master the Ice Bath Technique: Immediately plunge blanched peas into ice water to halt cooking and lock in their bright color and crisp texture.
• Customize the Vinaigrette: Sample and adjust the dressing before serving, balancing lemon juice and vinegar to match your taste preferences.
• Grate Cheese Like a Pro: Use freshly grated Pecorino Romano for superior melting and a more intense, authentic flavor that transforms the entire dish.

How to Store Snap Peas With Pancetta Without Sogginess

• Vacuum Sealing: Lock in freshness by using a vacuum sealer. Remove excess air completely, preventing oxidation and maintaining crisp texture. Transfer cooled snap peas and pancetta into vacuum-seal bags, ensuring a tight seal to extend refrigerator storage up to 5 days.
• Portion Compartments: Divide leftovers into individual serving-sized glass containers. Separate snap peas and pancetta to prevent moisture buildup, keeping ingredients distinct and preventing soggy textures. Glass containers preserve flavors better than plastic and allow easy visual tracking of storage duration.
• Freezer Preparation: Blanch snap peas briefly before freezing to preserve color and nutrients. Spread cooled pieces on a baking sheet, flash freeze for 2 hours, then transfer to freezer-safe bags.

Twists That Take Snap Peas and Pancetta in a New Direction

• Herbal Green Bean Remix: Swap snap peas with crisp green beans and add fresh chopped basil and mint for an aromatic Mediterranean-inspired version.
• Bacon Lover's Switch: Replace pancetta with smoky thick-cut bacon, creating a bolder, more robust flavor profile that meat enthusiasts will adore.
• Vegetarian Crunch Celebration: Eliminate pancetta and substitute with toasted pine nuts or crispy shallots, keeping the vibrant vinaigrette and cheese for maximum taste complexity.
• Spicy Mediterranean Kick: Incorporate red pepper flakes and substitute Pecorino Romano with crumbled feta cheese, adding a zesty Greek-inspired dimension to the original recipe.

The Crunchy Close to Snap Peas With Pancetta Perfection

Snap peas with pancetta showcase Ina Garten’s culinary prowess, blending crisp vegetables with salty cured meat.

Mediterranean flavors dance across palates with refreshing zest and complexity.

Pancetta’s rich notes complement green snap peas’ natural sweetness perfectly.

Delicate vinaigrette provides balanced acidity that elevates each ingredient’s character.

Quick preparation makes this recipe ideal for elegant weeknight dinners or sophisticated gatherings.

Readers craving culinary adventure, share this masterpiece, drop comments below, and spread gourmet inspiration across social networks!

Ina Garten Snap Peas With Pancetta Recipe

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4.9 from 14 reviews

• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s snap peas with pancetta elevate simple vegetables into a sophisticated side dish. Crisp pancetta and tender snap peas combine with garlic and olive oil, creating a delectable Mediterranean-inspired companion perfect for your dinner table.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1 pound (454 grams) sugar snap peas, trimmed
• ¼ pound (113 grams) pancetta, sliced
• ½ cup (120 milliliters) good olive oil

Cheese and Seasonings:

• 5 tablespoons freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

Dressing Components:

• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons Champagne or white wine vinegar
• ¼ cup minced red onion

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Instructions

1. Initiate the snap pea preparation by bringing 2 to 3 quarts (2.5 to 3.5 liters) of water to a rolling boil in a spacious pot, incorporating of salt. Simultaneously, create an ice bath in a large mixing bowl and position a sieve nearby.
2. Submerge the snap peas in the boiling water for a brief 10 to 15 seconds, then rapidly drain and plunge them into the ice water to halt the cooking process and preserve their vibrant color and crisp texture.
3. Once completely cooled, drain the snap peas again and carefully slice each pod lengthwise, creating elegant, thin strips. Transfer the prepared snap peas to a generously sized mixing bowl.
4. For the pancetta, place the cured meat in a medium sauté pan with of water. Cook over medium heat, periodically stirring, until the pancetta transforms into golden, crispy morsels and its natural fat renders completely.
5. Using a paper towel-lined plate, transfer the crispy pancetta to drain excess fat and allow for cooling.
6. Craft the vinaigrette by whisking olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and Champagne (or white wine) vinegar until the mixture becomes smooth and fully emulsified.
7. Assemble the salad by drizzling the vinaigrette over the snap peas, ensuring an even coating. Incorporate finely diced red onion, crumbled pancetta, freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese, and season with salt and black pepper.
8. Gently toss all ingredients to achieve a harmonious blend of flavors, adjusting seasonings to personal preference.
9. Serve the salad immediately or allow it to rest briefly at room temperature, permitting the flavors to meld and intensify before enjoying this refreshing side dish.

Notes

• Prevent Soggy Snap Peas: Blanch the peas for mere seconds to maintain their crisp texture and vibrant green color, ensuring they stay perfectly tender-crisp.
• Select Premium Pancetta: Choose high-quality, artisanal pancetta to elevate the dish with its rich, salty crunch and intense flavor profile.
• Shock Peas Instantly: Plunge blanched peas into an ice bath immediately, halting the cooking process and preserving their bright color and snappy texture.
• Personalize Vinaigrette Flavor: Taste and tweak the dressing, adding extra lemon juice or vinegar to create a perfectly balanced tanginess that suits your palate.
• Maximize Cheese Potential: Hand-grate Pecorino Romano moments before serving to unlock its most intense, melty, and aromatic qualities.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Appetizer, Snacks, Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Boiling
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 202.81 kcal
• Sugar: 1.51 g
• Sodium: 287.91 mg
• Fat: 19.31 g
• Saturated Fat: 5.5 g
• Fiber: 0.7 g
• Protein: 4.34 g
• Cholesterol: 14 mg