Description
Creamy ham and pea pasta brings comfort to dinner tables with Italian-inspired simplicity. Hearty ingredients combine for a quick meal that satisfies hungry families in less than 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340 g) pasta (penne, fettuccine, or rotini)
- 1 cup cooked ham, diced
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil or butter
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning (optional)
- Juice of ½ lemon (optional)
- ½ cup pasta water (reserved from cooking the pasta)
- Chopped fresh parsley
- Extra Parmesan cheese
- Crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Boiling Pasta: Fill a large pot with salted water and bring to a vigorous boil. Cook pasta until al dente, reserving a cup of pasta water before draining. The starchy liquid will be crucial for sauce consistency.
- Sautéing Ham and Aromatics: In a spacious skillet, heat olive oil and sauté diced ham until edges turn golden brown. Add minced garlic and cook briefly, releasing its fragrant essential oils.
- Creating Creamy Sauce: Introduce green peas, heavy cream, Parmesan, black pepper, salt, and Italian seasoning to the skillet. Simmer gently, allowing flavors to meld and sauce to thicken naturally. The mixture should develop a rich, velvety texture.
- Combining Pasta and Sauce: Gently fold cooked pasta into the creamy skillet, ensuring each strand is thoroughly coated. Adjust sauce consistency by gradually adding reserved pasta water. Enhance brightness with a splash of lemon juice, balancing the rich flavors.
- Serving and Garnishing: Transfer pasta to serving plates. Embellish with additional Parmesan shavings, freshly chopped parsley, and optional red pepper flakes for a spicy kick. Serve immediately alongside garlic bread or a crisp salad for a complete meal.
Notes
- Pasta Water Preservation: Save some starchy pasta water before draining, as it’s crucial for adjusting sauce consistency and helping ingredients bind together seamlessly.
- Ham Selection Strategy: Choose high-quality, lean ham with minimal fat to prevent greasy texture and ensure clean, balanced flavor profile in the final dish.
- Cream Monitoring Technique: Simmer cream gently to prevent separation or curdling, stirring consistently and keeping heat moderate to maintain smooth sauce texture.
- Flavor Balancing Hack: Taste and adjust seasoning carefully, as ham already contains salt; add pepper, herbs, and lemon juice incrementally to enhance without overwhelming the dish’s delicate flavor harmony.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 61g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 90mg