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Meat, Meal soups and plant based

French peas with bacon lardons and grilled sausages

French peas with bacon lardons and grilled sausages is a simmered dish for 4, ready in 45 minutes, easy to make, for €2.50 per serving. The trick is cooking the peas with lettuce, which melts down and releases water, giving a light natural sauce without any added stock.

Tonight, grandma style peas simmered with lardons and lettuce, with good grilled sausages on the side.

French peas with bacon lardons and grilled sausages
Total time
45 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€2.50
Calories per person
630 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Spring, Summer
The kids
They generally like it

This is a spring dish that smells like a grandmother's kitchen, tender peas simmered with smoky bacon lardons and pearl onions, softened by lettuce that melts gently into the pot. The sauce that forms is light, just enough to coat the peas, and a touch of sugar added near the end smooths out any sharpness, leaving a round, comforting flavor.

It's the kind of recipe you can make on a weeknight without much thought, since it mostly simmers on its own while the sausages grill alongside. Kids like picking out the peas and biting into half a sausage, while adults appreciate a simple dish that needs no cream or fancy technique, just time and good ingredients.

The ingredients

4 people

Frozen foods

  • Frozen peas 800 g

Butcher

  • Smoked bacon lardons 150 g
  • Toulouse sausages 4

Fruits and vegetables

  • Pearl onions 1 bunch
  • Lettuce 1
  • Parsley 1 bunch

Dairy

  • Butter 30 g

Pantry

  • Sugaroften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Allergens Lactose

The step by step recipe

  1. Melt the butter in a Dutch oven and brown the lardons with the onions. 6 min

    Let the onions color slightly to add a touch of sweetness.

  2. Add the peas, the lettuce cut into strips, the sugar, 10 cl of water, the salt and pepper, and cover. 20 min

    The sugar softens any sharpness and brings out the sweetness of the peas.

  3. Meanwhile, prick the sausages and grill them in a pan over medium heat. 15 min

    Cook them over low heat, they'd burst if the heat is too high.

  4. Uncover the peas at the end of cooking and let the liquid reduce. 3 min

    The sauce should just barely coat the peas.

  5. Serve the peas with the sausages and parsley.

    Cut the sausages in half for kids, they're easier to eat that way.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick frozen peas over out of season fresh ones, they hold a more even texture once cooked.
  • Go easy on salt at the start, the lardons and sausages already bring plenty.
  • If the sauce still looks thin at the end, keep reducing it uncovered rather than reaching for cornstarch.

The variations

  • Swap the Toulouse sausages for chipolatas for a milder version that kids tend to prefer.
  • For a vegetarian version, skip the lardons and sausages, and add a pinch of smoked paprika to keep some depth of flavor.
  • For a quicker version, use frozen pre-chopped onions and precooked sausages you just need to warm through in the pan.

What to serve it with

  • Country bread for dipping
  • A simple green salad
  • Wholegrain mustard on the side

Storage

The peas keep for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. They freeze well once cooled, for up to 2 months. Reheat gently in a saucepan with a splash of water to bring back the sauce, and re-grill the sausages rather than microwaving them.

Questions about this dish

Can frozen peas be swapped for fresh ones?

Yes, if they're in season, you'll need about 3.3 pounds of fresh peas in the pod to get the 800g needed shelled. The cooking time stays roughly the same.

Why add lettuce to the peas?

Lettuce melts down slowly and releases water, creating a natural cooking liquid without needing any added stock. It's a classic trick that also softens the flavor of the peas.

Can this dish be made ahead?

Yes, the peas actually taste even better reheated the next day, once the sauce has had time to soak in. Just cook the sausages fresh at the last minute so they stay nicely grilled.

Can pearl onions be replaced?

If you can't find them, a regular yellow onion cut into small wedges works well instead. Pearl onions mainly give a more traditional look and a softer texture.

How long does it take to make French peas with bacon lardons and grilled sausages?

Count 45 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in French peas with bacon lardons and grilled sausages?

About 630 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does French peas with bacon lardons and grilled sausages cost?

About €2.50 per serving, or €10.00 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains lactose. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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