Green Peas With Crispy Bacon

The addition of mint and orange really brightens this often underrated veggie, while the bacon lends a smoky flavor.

Ingredients:

• 2 smoked bacon slices
• 1 shallot, sliced
• 1/2 teaspoon grated orange rind
• 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 (16-ounce) bag frozen sweet green peas, thawed*
• 1 teaspoon butter or margarine
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
• Garnishes: fresh mint sprig, orange rind curl

Directions:

1. Cook bacon in a medium skillet until crisp; remove and drain on paper towels, reserving 1 teaspoon drippings in skillet. Crumble bacon, and set aside.
2. Sauté shallot in hot bacon drippings over medium-high heat 2 minutes or until tender. Stir in orange rind, orange juice, pepper, and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes or until reduced by half. Add peas, and cook 5 more minutes; stir in butter and mint.
3. Transfer peas to a serving dish, and sprinkle with crumbled bacon. Garnish, if desired.
4. *3 cups shelled fresh sweet green peas may be substituted for frozen. Cook peas in boiling water 5 minutes, and proceed with recipe.

Debra Hoppe, Slidell, Louisiana, Southern Living MARCH 2004