Sugar Snap Peas with Bacon

Sugar Snap Peas are one of my favorite vegetables - they are crunchy and sweet and I think they are good both raw or cooked. I like to cook them just a little. I saw a bunch at the Asian Market and they looked so good that I had to buy them.  I make them many ways, but my current favorite way is with Bacon. It's one of those combinations that I think should be enshrined in the culinary world.  This is a really simple side dish and it's even good cold. I've brought it to potlucks and it's been a big hit. It doesn't need any other seasoning besides a little bit of Shallot and hint of Pepper as the Peas are sweet and the bacon is salty. - a perfect match!

Sugar Snap Peas with Bacon

1 pound of Sugar Snap Peas, ends pinched off

4 cups of Water

4 - 6 slices of Bacon, cut into very small pieces
2 teaspoons minced Shallot

pinch of fresh ground Pepper

Bring Water to a boil in a saucepan. Add in the Sugar Snap Peas and cook for 3 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.  

Cook Bacon in a frying pan until crisp. Remove to a paper towel covered plate. Drain off extra oil. Add Shallots to the pan and cook until soft. Then add in the Sugar Snap Peas to the pan, coat with that little bit of Bacon fat and sprinkle with Pepper.  Pour into a bowl and top with Bacon pieces.  

Five Element Analysis

Sugar Snap Peas are primarily identified with the Wood Element as they come from fast growing vines, but because they are sweet, they have embody some the Earth Element too. The Bacon belongs to the Water Element and the Pepper brings in just a bit of Fire.The Shallot adds just a bit of the Metal Element. Since this is a side dish, be sure to add another Fire Food (we had Lamb with a sweet place for some more Earth too) and a bit more of a Metal food - we had Fennel and Orange Salad as our other side dish for a Five Element balance.