Why you need to try this recipe

Pasta e piselli translates to “pasta with peas,” a traditional Italian dish that’s simple, comforting and ready in a snap. This pasta and peas dish was initially created during a time when peasants in Italy could not find meat sources for protein. Thus, they included veggies, like peas, for protein.

I love creating this pea pasta recipe at home, as it requires minimal ingredients. Most of the ingredients for my peas and pasta recipe are pantry staples. If you don’t have any of the ingredients on hand, they’re easily found at local supermarkets.

This pasta piselli dish is also great because it’s super simple. Beginners through to advanced home chefs can easily whip up this dish in a few minutes. Simple, tasty, and quick, this pasta and peas recipe will be your new weekly favourite in no time.

Ingredients

Onion

An easy way to add flavour and aromatics to any dish. Avoid watery eyes while slicing onions by keeping a damp paper towel nearby.

Garlic Cloves

Another excellent way to add aromatics and flavour fresh garlic cloves are ideal. However, you can also use pre-minced garlic cloves or garlic powder in a pinch.

Frozen Peas

Any frozen peas are great for this pasta with peas dish. They’re frozen at peak freshness, adding vibrance and nutrients. 

Fresh Mint

Pasta with lighter sauces and fresh mint is a perfect pairing! If you don’t have any growing in your garden, you can typically find fresh mint in the refrigerated produce section.

Ditali Pasta

I prefer using Ditali pasta for this pea pasta recipe. However, you can use any smaller pasta shapes.

Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese

Fresh parmesan cheese is essential for this piselli dish. It helps create the delicious, cheesy sauce that pasta and peas recipes (Italian-style) are known for.

How to make pasta with peas

Start by finely dicing the onion, then add with the extra-virgin olive oil into a large stainless steel saucepan/ or non-stick frying pan on a medium/low heat. Season with salt and pepper and fry for 5 minutes.

Next, add the garlic and chilli flakes into the pan to fry for one minute before adding the frozen peas and fresh mint.  At this point, add your ditalini to salted boiling water, timer set to 2 minutes minus the packet time.

Continue to fry the peas. When your timer goes off, transfer around 300ml of pasta water into the pan with the peas.  Stir the parmesan into the mix and continuously stir.

Add the pasta.  Stir the Ditali into the cheesy, pea sauce until everything is incorporated. Season with salt and pepper if necessary and enjoy!

Adaptations

Gluten-Free

Crafting a pasta with peas dish that’s gluten-free is an easy feat. You can swap the pasta noodles for a gluten-free alternative, like brown rice pasta. Typically, gluten-free pasta will denote that they do not have gluten on the package’s exterior.

 If you have a gluten intolerance, you may want to check the parmesan cheese ingredients and the ingredients of the seasonings. While these typically do not contain gluten, it’s sometimes added during manufacturing.

Storage/Reheat

How to store Italian pasta and peas?

This pasta e piselli recipe will store well in the fridge. Ensure you place the leftovers in an airtight container before putting them into the fridge. Once packed, you can keep this dish in the fridge for up to five days. Alternatively, if you want to create lunches or meals for the week, you can portion out servings in separate airtight containers for easy reheating.

Can I reheat pasta with peas?

Yes, you can easily reheat piselli pasta! Either the stovetop or microwave will be sufficient for reheating this dish. Serve however much you wish to reheat in a bowl (microwave-safe) or a pot, and heat through. As a note, you may need to add some additional water to the bowl or pan, as the pasta can dry out after a few days in the fridge.

Can I freeze it?

Yes you can freeze this recipe for up to 3 months.  Defrost and add a tbsp of water to the pasta when reheating.

What else can I add?

While this pasta peas dish is already one of the most delicious pasta recipes, you can always alter it to your taste preference. For example, if you have leftover roasted chicken or turkey, it will make an excellent addition to the dish. Slice or shred the chicken or turkey, and toss it in with the pasta as the last step. Including poultry will help boost the protein in the dish.

Alternatively, you can also add various veggies for added nutrients to your pasta with peas. Thinly sliced bell peppers, spinach, cooked courgette, and fresh cherry tomatoes are all excellent options for a nutrient-rich dish. 

Other pasta recipes you should try out:

One-Pot Creamy Tomato Tortellini Pasta Soup

Mushroom Rigatoni Ragu

Creamy Gochujang Pasta