Ingredients
- 1 pound new potatoes unpeeled
- 4 ounces thick-cut bacon (or any bacon) sliced into ½” lardons
- ½ teaspoon olive oil
- 1 pound shelled peas fresh or frozen
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ cup half and half
- kosher salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste (be generous)
- 8-10 large mint leaves roughly chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a medium stockpot with water and salt heavily—it should taste like a mouthful of ocean water. Bring to a boil and add potatoes. Boil potatoes until just tender, about 15-20 minutes, depending on the size of your potatoes.
- While potatoes are boiling, place sliced bacon and olive oil in a large skillet. Place skillet over a medium-high burner and as soon as you begin to hear the bacon sizzling, reduce heat to medium-low. Cook bacon, stirring and flipping pieces occasionally until fat is rendered and bacon pieces are browned and crispy. Remove from skillet with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel-lined plate to cool and crisp further.
- Carefully pour bacon fat out of skillet into a heat-proof container. (I like to save it in my fridge for frying breakfast eggs!) Reserve skillet.
- When potatoes are almost done, add peas to the boiling water. If you are using frozen peas, once the water comes back up to a boil, immediately drain peas and potatoes. If you are using fresh peas, allow them to boil for 1-2 minutes before draining, or until bright green.
- When potatoes are tender and peas are cooked, drain mixture thoroughly and set aside. In reserved skillet, warm half and half and butter over medium heat until the butter is just melted. Add potato/pea mixture and cooked bacon and toss to coat. Season liberally with salt and lots of freshly cracked pepper.
- To serve, use a slotted spoon to scoop peas, potatoes and bacon pieces into shallow bowls. Top with 2-3 tablespoons of liquid and garnish with mint leaves.
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