Recipe Peas à la Francaise with Pink Radicchio

[Morning Glory]

This is a twist an on the classic French dish of 'Petit Pois à la Francais' - peas cooked with bacon and lettuce. Normally a green lettuce is used but I’ve switched it for slightly bitter pink baby radicchio. I love the combination of the sweet peas, salty bacon and slightly bitter radicchio. Please note - the baby radicchio are as soft as a baby lettuce and not at all like the crisp red or green chicory/radicchio heads which are more easily available.

Ingredients (serves 2 as a side dish)
120g frozen peas
75g streaky bacon, chopped into 1 inch pieces
3 x Spring onions (scallions), sliced into short pieces
20g butter
120g frozen peas
100ml vegetable or chicken stock
A generous handful of baby pink radicchio (approx. 6 to 8 leaves)
Salt to taste
1 tbsp cream (optional)
Grated lemon zest or julienned strips of lemon rind to garnish (optional)

Method

1. Cook the bacon in a hot non-stick frying pan for 3-4 mins until the fat begins to melt.
2. Add onions and butter and cook gently for 4-5 mins until the onion softens. Add stock and bring to a simmer.
3. Add the radicchio and cook gently until the radicchio is tender (use more stock if the sauce reduces too much).
4. Add frozen peas (no need to thaw) to the pan and heat through. Add salt to .taste
5. Stir in the cream (if using).
6. Sprinkle with grated lemon zest or julienned strips of lemon rind (if using).