Creamy Italian Pasta with Peas (What Italians Actually Eat at Home)

This is another Italian pasta with peas dish that Italians actually eat at home. You won’t find this on any restaurant menus because it’s not fancy. It’s more like dinner on a Tuesday night. So unfortunately, you’re going to have to make this one at home.

And honestly, that’s the beauty of it.

This dish is really the heart of the Mediterranean diet. Simple ingredients, great flavor, cheap to make, and you can feed your whole family for about the cost of a takeout burrito. It’s also incredibly easy to put together. The best part is, you probably already have all the ingredients sitting in your kitchen.

Start with Olive Oil and Onions

The first thing we’re going to do is heat up a generous amount of olive oil and sauté some onions.

I’m using one yellow onion, chopped on the smaller side. Cook the onions gently until they turn translucent. You’re not looking to brown them, just soften them so they melt into the base of the dish.

Add the Peas and Season Simply

Once the onions are ready, add in the peas. I’m using a one-pound bag of frozen peas. You probably already have these in the freezer waiting to get cooked in something.

Mix everything together and let the peas sauté for a few minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Nothing complicated here.

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Add Hot Water (Get the Kettle On)

Now we’re going to add boiling water. If you have a kettle, this is the perfect time to use it. Instead of adding cold water and waiting for it to heat up, just pour the hot water straight in.

I’m using about four cups of boiling water to start. You can always add more later if needed. Let the peas simmer for a few minutes.

The Step That Makes It Creamy

This is the secret to this entire dish.

Using a hand blender, blend up about half of the peas directly in the pan. This one step takes it from a simple pasta with peas and cheese to a creamy pasta with peas and cheese.

This little technique makes a huge difference. A hand blender is also much easier to clean than a food processor, and you don’t have to dig around your cabinets to find it. It’s one of those tools that turns simple food into something special.

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Add the Pasta Directly to the Pan

Now it’s time to add the pasta.

I’m using one pound of pasta, and the ratio is simple: one pound of pasta, one pound of peas. If you want to make less, just cut everything in half and blend half of the peas.

Add the pasta straight into the pan and mix it in. Take a look at the water level — there shouldn’t be much liquid. You can always add more water, but you can’t take it out.

Now add in the blended peas and stir everything together. You’ll immediately see that bright green color, and that’s exactly what you want.

Let Everything Simmer Together

Let the pasta simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes. Since it’s cooking directly in the pan with the peas, it takes a little longer than boiling pasta separately.

As it cooks, you’ll notice a little creamy “pond” forming in the center of the pan. That’s a good sign. It means the water, starch, and peas are coming together properly.

By the time the pasta is ready, most of the liquid will be gone and absorbed.

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Turn Off the Heat and Add the Cheese

Once the pasta is cooked, turn the heat off completely. This is very important.

Add about a cup and a half of Pecorino Romano cheese. Yes, it’s a lot of cheese, but this is the second secret to making this dish creamy.

Stir the cheese in with the heat off. The remaining warmth and moisture will melt the cheese and create a smooth, velvety sauce without clumping.

Serve It Right Away

Once it’s ready, serve it immediately. As it sits, it will continue to thicken.

Spoon it onto a plate and take a look at how creamy it is. Even after sitting for a few minutes, it still looks incredible.

Why This Dish Belongs in Your Weekly Rotation

This is the kind of meal that breaks up the week. It’s cheap, comforting, and nourishing. You could easily make this once or twice a week, save money, and then splurge on fish or steak on other days.

For a lot of people, this dish brings back childhood memories. There were always peas in the freezer. Pasta and peas was the meal when someone said, “We have food at home.”

This version is better, creamier, and more satisfying. You can easily feed four to six people from one pot, and it doesn’t cost much at all.

It’s simple Italian home cooking at its best. Nothing fancy. Just smart techniques, good ingredients, and comfort in a bowl.

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