Chicken with Peas & Bacon
Frozen peas are one of the most useful items to have in the freezer which I consider to be an extension of my pantry.
enough for: 2
takes: 20 minutes
450g (1lb) chicken thigh fillets
2-4 slices bacon, chopped
250g (9oz) frozen peas
1 bunch mint, leaves picked
squeeze lemon
1. Heat a medium frying pan on a medium high heat. Rub chicken with a little oil and bash with your hand to flatten slightly. Season with salt.
2. Cook chicken in the pan for 3-5 minutes on each side or until cooked through. Remove and rest on a clean warm plate.
3. Return the pan to the heat and cook bacon, stirring until well browned and crispy. About 5 minutes.
4. Add peas straight from the freezer and cook until warm. Remove from the heat. Toss in the mint and add a splash of lemon.
5. Divide bacony peas between two plates and top with chicken thighs.
Variations
pork-free – either skip the bacon or replace with a chopped red onion. Or serve the peas with lashings of grated parmesan.
vegan – replace chicken and bacon with a drained can of chickpeas or black beans.
vegetarian – replace chicken with sliced halloumi and replace bacon with a chopped red onion or sun dried tomatoes.
more substantial – toss cooked short pasta in with the peas. Or serve on a bed of mashed or roast potato.
more substantial (low carb) – extra chicken. Roast almonds.
different meat – the peas and mint are lovely with pork sausages or pan fried lamb chops.
pescetarian – replace the chicken with your favourite fish. The bacon goes surprisingly well with fish but you’re welcome to try the pork-free options if you don’t dig on swine.
different veg – feel free to use fresh shelled peas, trimmed snow peas, sugar snap peas or trimmed green beans. Or even asparagus.
Waste Avoidance Strategy
chicken thigh fillets / bacon – freeze them.
peas – keep in the freezer.
mint – best to use for another meal. Leaves can be frozen but will wilt when defrosted so not ideal. Alternatively make a mint oil by packing washed and dried leaves in a clean dry glass jar and covering with extra virgin olive oil use mint oil to serve with lamb, chicken or fish.
lemon – whole lemon will keep wrapped in a plastic bag in the fridge for months.
Add to my Old Favourite Recipes
One of my biggest issues is feeding a household of 4 with VERY different menu wishes. Here’s how I adapted this:
– What I got from my organic butcher this week: a small turkey leg raost and a couple filet pieces
– I fried the bacon first and put it in a bowl for those who want bacon (2/4)
I fried the skin side of the turkey leg, flipped it, added the filet pieces When they were ready to flip, I added a can of cannelini beans (small white) and 5 sliced dried tomatoes.
– I cooked some white spiral pasta on the side for those with carb needs. (3/4 takers)
I happily harvested 4 Tablespoons of mint from the balcony, chopped, also in a bowl for those who can tolerate more visible green, vocally I highly recommended it. (different 3/4 takers)
– added 2 cups of frozen peas, and cut the meat off the bone, sliced the filets, stirred it all together
Summary: An easy 1 skillet meal that pleased 4/4. HURRAY!!!
Good for you Murphy! Sounds like you have a tough crowd and your nailing it! This is what stonesoup recipes are all about Jx
Jules, after getting your email asking how I was going with your meal plans and having to answer ‘I hadn’t cooked one yet’ I finally got my act into gear and cooked something!
To be honest my biggest concern was fearing hubby’s grumbles at new or seemingly basic meals. I didn’t want to hear it as your meal plan solution seemed to be offering me the answer I needed in my baby brain, time poor, desiring healthy meals life.
I needed not fear! Yes hubby asked ‘what is this’ whilst I cooked and commented ‘you haven’t made this before’ but upon eating it he said ‘this is really good. Some of my favourite flavours’. Hooray!
I found the meal simple, tasty, fresh and I felt good after eating it (no bloated like I do from many of the carb focussed meals I usually cook).
Thank you & congrats on your second bundle on the way.
Wonderful Melissa!
So glad to hear you had success with your husband 🙂
Jx
Excellent with the pasta.
Glad you liked it Matthew 🙂