Mr Oliver's pasta and pea recipe

Method

To prepare your pasta • Finely slice the bacon • Pick the mint leaves and discard the stalks • Finely grate the Parmesan

To cook your pasta • Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and drop in the stock cube (if using) • Stir until it’s dissolved, then add the mini shells and cook according to the packet instructions • Get a large frying pan over a medium heat and add a good lug of olive oil and the butter • Add the bacon to the pan, sprinkle a little pepper over and fry until golden and crisp • Meanwhile, finely chop your mint leaves • As soon as the bacon is golden, add your frozen peas and give the pan a good shake • After a minute or so, add the crème fraîche and chopped mint to the bacon and peas • Drain the pasta in a colander over a large bowl, reserving some of the cooking water • Add the pasta to the frying pan • Halve your lemon and squeeze the juice over the pasta • When it’s all bubbling away nicely, remove from the heat • The sauce should be creamy and delicious but if it’s too thick for you, add a splash of the reserved cooking water to thin it out a bit • Add the grated Parmesan and give the pan a shake to mix it in