Thanksgiving Peas with Pancetta, Pear, and Lemon Recipe
A delicious and colorful Thanksgiving side dish featuring tender peas, sweet pears, and savory pancetta, enhanced with shallots, Dijon mustard, and fresh lemon zest. This recipe offers a perfect balance of flavors and textures that will surely be a holiday favorite.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- ½ pound pancetta, cut into small dice
- 3 medium shallots, halved and thinly sliced (about 1 cup thinly sliced)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 16 ounces frozen peas
- 1 pear, peeled, sliced, and small diced
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced (about 3 tablespoons juice and 1 teaspoon zest)
- ½ cup roughly chopped parsley
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prep the Pear: Peel, slice, and dice the pear into small pieces. Place the diced pear in a small bowl and mix with the lemon juice to prevent browning. Set aside.
- Cook the Pancetta: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the pancetta. Cook until golden brown and crispy. Remove the pancetta with a slotted spoon, drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Keep about 3 tablespoons of the rendered fat in the skillet, discard the rest.
- Sauté the Shallots: Add the sliced shallots to the skillet with the pancetta fat. Cook for about a minute until softened, then stir in the Dijon mustard.
- Add Peas and Pears: Add the frozen peas and lemon-coated diced pears to the skillet. Stir and cook for about 5 minutes, until peas are warmed through and flavors meld.
- Combine Pancetta and Parsley: Turn off the heat, then stir in half of the cooked pancetta, chopped parsley, and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Serve: Transfer the peas mixture to a large serving bowl. Top with the remaining pancetta and garnish with lemon zest. Serve warm as a festive side dish.
Notes
- Buying pre-diced pancetta can save you preparation time.
- This recipe serves about 6 people but can easily be doubled for larger gatherings.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days.
- Reheat leftovers in a pan with a bit of olive oil or use a microwave.
- Leftovers are delicious served with breakfast eggs, either fried, poached, or scrambled.
Keywords: Thanksgiving side dish, peas recipe, pancetta, pears, holiday recipes, easy side dish
