Description
A comforting and creamy pasta dish with sweet peas and salty ham, perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces short pasta (shells, elbows, spaghetti, or fettuccine)
- 1 cup ham, diced
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 cup cream (heavy cream or half-and-half)
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Boil the Pasta: Start by bringing a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add your pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve a cup of pasta water, then drain the rest.
- Sauté the Aromatics: In the same pot, drizzle in that olive oil and turn the heat to medium. Toss in the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the Ham: Stir in the diced ham and sauté for about 2–3 minutes until warmed through and slightly crispy.
- Stir in the Cream: Slowly pour in the cream, stirring continuously, and let it come to a gentle simmer.
- Mix in the Peas and Cheese: Add the peas and fold in the grated parmesan until melted.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Toss the drained pasta back into the pot and mix until coated in the creamy sauce. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Garnish and Serve: Serve in warm bowls, garnished with fresh basil or parsley.
Notes
Feel free to substitute ingredients and get creative with your own variations, like adding vegetables or using different cheeses.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: pasta, peas, ham, creamy, comfort food, weeknight dinner