Baby Peas With Bacon And Crispy Leeks Recipes

FIRST BABY FOOD: PEAS

Steps:

• Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add peas, cover, and steam until tender, about 15 minutes.
• Place peas and breast milk in a blender or food processor and puree until creamy. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any lumps.
• Spread pea mixture into an ice cube tray, cover with plastic wrap and freeze until solid, 2 to 3 hours. Transfer frozen cubes to a resealable plastic bag and store in the freezer.
• To serve, heat cubes in the microwave for about 30 seconds until warm but not hot. Stir thoroughly.

BABY PEAS WITH BACON AND CRISPY LEEKS

Steps:

• 1 - wash leeks well and pat dry. Heat ½" oil in large saucepan until shimmering. Add all but ½ c. leeks and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until golden brown. Remove with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Season with salt & pepper. (Discard oil) 2 - cook bacon until crispy. Drain on paper towels and crumble. 3 - add remaining ½ c. leeks and thyme to bacon fat and cook until leeks are softened (8 minutes). Add ½ c. broth and cook until reduced by half (7 minutes) add heavy cream and reduce by half. Stir in peas, crumbled bacon and remaining ½ c. broth and bring to boil. Discard thyme. Add salt & pepper and cornstarch mixture. Cook until slightly thickened, 3-4 minutes. Serve, topped with crispy leeks.

BRAISED LEEKS & PEAS

Steps:

• Discard outer, darker, tougher leaves from the leeks, then halve each into 2 shorter lengths and rinse under cold running water.
• Pour the chicken or veg stock into a large, wide shallow pan, then scatter in the garlic and thyme sprigs. Lay the leeks in the pan, trying not to crowd them, then season with pepper. Cover and simmer for 15 mins until almost tender. Tip in the peas, bring back to the boil and simmer for a further 5 mins until the veg is cooked. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the leeks, peas and garlic to a warm serving dish, season with extra pepper, drizzle over the olive oil and finish with a scattering of thyme leaves.

BUTTERED PEAS & LEEKS

Steps:

• Gently soften the leeks in butter and oil in your largest pan for 15-20 mins until almost meltingly soft. You can soften the leeks up to a day ahead, then just reheat in the pan before continuing the recipe. Stir in the stock, bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 mins. Stir in the peas and spring onions for 3-5 mins more until the peas are defrosted and cooked through, then season and serve.

LEEKS WITH BACON & MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large frying pan, then add the bacon and fry for a few mins until golden. Add the thyme, mushrooms and leeks with seasoning (remember bacon can be salty), cover pan and cook on a low heat for 20-25 mins until leeks are tender.

QUICK BRAISED LETTUCE, PEAS & BACON

Steps:

• Heat a small piece of the butter in a frying pan and fry the bacon until golden, then add the peas and chicken stock, simmer and reduce the stock by half. Stir through the lettuce and remaining butter, and simmer for a minute until the lettuce has just wilted and the butter is incorporated into the stock. Season to taste, then serve.

BABY PEAS WITH BACON AND CRISPY LEEKS

Steps:

• Wash the leeks well and pat dry. In a large saucepan, heat 1/2 inch of oil until shimmering. Add all but 1/2 cup of the leeks and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the leeks to a paper towel-lined plate. Discard the oil. Season with salt and pepper. 2. In a large, deep skillet, cook the bacon over moderately high heat, turning once, until golden, about 5 minutes. Drain the bacon on paper towels and crumble. 3. Add the remaining 1/2 cup of leeks and the thyme to the fat in the skillet and cook over moderately low heat until the leeks are softened, about 8 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of the Rich Turkey Stock and cook over moderate heat until it is reduced by half, about 7 minutes. Add the heavy cream and cook over moderately high heat until it is reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Stir in the peas, crumbled bacon and the remaining 1/2 cup of stock and bring to a boil. Discard the thyme sprigs. Season with salt and pepper. Add the cornstarch mixture and cook until the sauce is slightly thickened, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer the peas to a bowl and top with the crispy leeks just before serving.

COD WITH BACON, LETTUCE & PEAS

Steps:

• Heat the sunflower oil in a medium non-stick frying pan. Add the bacon, shallot or onion, and garlic. Cook gently, stirring, for 2 mins, then push to one side of the pan.
• Season the cod with ground black pepper. Fry in the pan for 2 mins, then turn over. Add the peas and stock, and bring to a simmer. Cook over a medium heat for a further 2 mins, then add the lettuce and crème fraîche. Cook for a couple mins more, stirring the vegetables occasionally, until the fish is just cooked and the lettuce has wilted. Serve with bread to mop up the broth.