One-Pan Ditalini and Peas

By Leslie Blythe    ,

June 19, 2025

When I made this my husband said it was a 10 out of a 10 (greater than the sum of its parts). This One-Pan Ditalini and Peas will become your savior on busy weeknights. Ditalini, meaning "little thimbles" in Italian, is a small, tube-shaped pasta. The key to this dish is that the pasta cooks directly in the broth, absorbing all the flavors as it simmers. This delicious, quick meal comes together in one pot, meaning minimal cleanup. Yet, it tastes surprisingly complex and elegant. Sweet, perfectly cooked peas are the ideal complement to the ditalini, and the sauce is wonderfully silky without being heavy. It’s topped off with crispy salami, lemon zest, fresh herbs and Parmesan cheese.

  • Prep: 10 mins
  • Cook: 20 mins
  • Yields: 4 Servings

Ingredients

4 tablespoons olive oil or 2 tablespoons olive oil + 2 tablespoons butter

2 ounces thinly-sliced salami, cut into strips

4 cloves of garlic, minced

Red pepper flakes, to taste

1 pound uncooked ditalini pasta

4 cups vegetable broth

2 cups water

2 cups frozen peas, no need to defrost

½ cup heavy cream

Finely-grated zest of half a lemon

½ cup freshly grated parmesan

Chopped fresh parsley, mint, or basil

Directions

1Heat pan over medium-high and add olive oil, heating it too. Add salami to olive oil and heat, stirring, until it begins to crisp. Use a slotted spoon to remove it from the pan and drain it on a paper towel. Add garlic and a pinch or two of pepper flakes to the oil left in the pan and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add pasta, broth, and water and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente, about 2 minutes shy of done. Add peas and cook for one minute more. Add cream and cook for 1 final minute. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more salt and pepper if needed. Finish with lemon zest, half the parmesan, all of the crisped salami (if using), and herbs. Cut zested lemon half into wedges and serve on the side for squeezing over, along with additional parmesan. Eat right away.

Recipe adapted from Smitten Kitchen.

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