Description
A comforting and easy-to-make Pasta with Peas and Ham recipe that combines tender pasta, sweet peas, and savory ham in a creamy Parmesan sauce. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, this dish is packed with flavor and ready in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 400 g pasta (such as penne or fusilli)
- 200 g frozen peas
- 50 g grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh Ingredients
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
- Lemon zest (optional)
Other Ingredients
- 150 g cooked ham, diced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 100 ml cream
Instructions
- Cook the pasta and peas: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. During the last 3 minutes of cooking, add the frozen peas to the boiling pasta water to cook them together.
- Sauté onion and garlic: While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté until the onion is soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Cook the ham: Add the diced ham to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the ham is heated through.
- Add cream and season: Stir in the cream and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Drain the pasta and peas, then add them to the pan with the ham and cream mixture. Toss everything together over low heat, ensuring that the pasta and peas are well coated with the sauce.
- Add Parmesan: Remove the pan from the heat and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese. Toss again to combine.
- Serve: Serve the pasta hot, garnished with fresh parsley and a hint of lemon zest if desired.
Notes
- You can substitute the cream with half-and-half for a lighter version.
- Use fresh peas if available but adjust cooking time accordingly.
- For a vegetarian version, omit ham and add mushrooms or roasted vegetables.
- Make sure to taste and adjust seasoning before serving.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Boiling, Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 430 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
Keywords: pasta with peas and ham, creamy pasta recipe, easy weeknight pasta, Italian pasta dish, ham and pea pasta
