Linguine with bacon, goat cheese and sugar snap peas? I have officially decided that this is my new favorite spring recipe. Because if for no other reason, I simply love saying “sugar snaps.” There’s something so, well, spring-like about how that sounds…full of sparkle and possibilities, just like spring! And if you add a little bacon to the equation….do I really need to say more?
Of course I need to say more. I always need to say more.
One of the additional things I need to say about this fun and fast recipe involves those things that look like breadcrumbs on the top of the pasta. Sure, they look like plain old breadcrumbs, but they are so very much more. There’s actually not a single breadcrumb involved…nope, those are pecans that have been pulverized for a few seconds in your food processor and then sauteed in the same skillet that you cooked the bacon. That’s right…pecan crumbs cooked in bacon. Now I do love a pasta dish topped with breadcrumbs, but I could get used to pecan crumbs cooked in bacon pretty dang fast.
The other thing I need to say about this pasta dish is how wonderfully all those taste sensations work together. The salty bacon, the creamy goat cheese and the sweetness of the sugar snaps…all I can say is, you really need to make sure you are getting a little of all three as you twirl each bite of pasta around your fork. Close your eyes and chew slowly. You’ll see what I mean.
And with that, I’ll pipe down and let you make this one!
Recipe slightly adapted from Taste of the South
Still Hungry?
Beef Stir-Fry with Sugar Snap Peas, from Framed Cooks
Sugar Snap Salad, from Bon Appetit
Grilled Vegetable and Goat Cheese Sandwiches, from Leite’s Culinaria
- 8 slices bacon, cut into ½ inch pieces
- 1 cup pecans
- 2 tablespoons coarse salt
- 8 ounces linguine
- 2 cups sugar snap peas, trimmed and cut diagonally into ½ inch slices
- ¼ cup sliced scallions
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon zest
- 8 ounces crumbled goat cheese at room temperature
- Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium high heat until it is crispy. Scoop bacon out of the pan with a slotted spoon, leaving the bacon grease. Drain on paper towels.
- Add pecans to the pan and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes. Scoop those out of the pan, put in food processor and pulse a few times until they resemble crumbs.
- Bring a large pot of water to boil and add 2 tablespoons of salt. Add linguine.
- When linguine is 2-3 minutes from being done, add the sugar snap peas. Cook until linguine is done and drain.
- Transfer linguine and peas to a large bowl. Add bacon, scallions, olive oil and lemon zest and toss. Top with cheese and ground pecan crumbs.
pecans cooked in bacon grease sounds like the best thing ever.
Right?? Bacon grease is the nectar of the gods, as far as I am concerned. 🙂
OMG! There you are with the peas and bacon again, and it’s divine! I just love that salt and sweet combination. 😉 You are so right. Just close your eyes and savor.
Yep, sweet and salty. A match made in heaven!
I am so excited about this recipe you’ve shared! I am obsessed with sugar snaps right now and always have some on hand for munching. I might actually cook some by trying out your recipe. Thanks!
Aren’t they the best snacks? Good and good for you. 🙂
I’ve been waiting (desperately, I might add) for local sugar snaps to make an appearance in my life! And when they do…you know what I’ll be making! Especially since I’m on a goat cheese kick that can’t be rivaled. It’s intense.
I always want to do the happy dance when the sugar snaps arrive…it’s ALMOST as good as the first local tomatoes. Almost. 🙂
Oh my goodness. What a mouthwatering combination of ingredients! This looks SO delicious! Sugar snaps are one of my favorite snacks, but with pasta? YUM!!
I know, right? A match made in heaven, 🙂
Found your website through pinterest and tried this recipe tonight. Delicious! The combo is great, especially with the goat cheese and pecans cooked in bacon grease! Plan to use the leftover pecans on my salad tomorrow.
So glad you liked it – and I agree, the pecans are the thing that make this recipe sing! Great idea to use the leftovers in salad. 🙂
LOVE this recipe! I’ve made it several times and it’s simple to make and always a hit!
HUrray! It’s one of my summertime faves. 🙂