Prosciutto Pasta with Peas and Parmesan Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 oz pasta
penne
- 1 cup green peas
frozen
- 3 oz prosciutto
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
ground or freshly cracked
- 1 cup Parmesan
shredded
- to taste1/8 teaspoon salt
Directions
- 1
Cook pasta in boiling water until al dente. During the last 5-7 minutes of cooking, add frozen peas and continue boiling both the pasta and frozen peas for 5-7 more minutes. Drain. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
- 2
Tear prosciutto into smaller pieces.
- 3
In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons butter on medium heat. Add the torn prosciutto and stir to coat it with butter, for about 1 minute. Add black pepper. Add another 2 tablespoons of butter and stir until melted.
- 4
To the skillet with butter and prosciutto add drained cooked pasta with peas. Sprinkle 3/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese evenly over pasta. Stir everything together on medium heat until the cheese melts. If needed, add a small amount of pasta water (about 1/4 cup) - but you might not need to.
- 5
Season with salt, if needed. Serve immediately, topped with the remaining 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Prosciutto Pasta with Peas and Parmesan Cheese
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Ratings & Reviews
Based on 178 ratings
Rating Breakdown
About this Recipe
Craving a comforting, yet elegant weeknight meal that comes together in a flash? This Prosciutto Pasta with Peas and Parmesan Cheese is your answer, delivering rich Italian flavors in just 30 minutes with minimal fuss.
What makes this dish a true weeknight hero is its brilliant simplicity and harmonious flavor profile. Salty, savory prosciutto crisps up to provide an irresistible counterpoint to the natural sweetness of tender green peas. A luxurious sauce, built on a foundation of rich butter and plenty of nutty Parmesan cheese, generously coats every piece of al dente penne, creating a deeply satisfying experience with minimal effort. It’s a testament to how a few quality ingredients, thoughtfully combined, can yield extraordinary results that taste far more complex than their short preparation time suggests.
Prepare for a pasta dish that’s both indulgent and surprisingly fresh, showcasing the beauty of simple Italian cooking. You'll find perfectly cooked penne cradling vibrant green peas, interspersed with delightful bites of savory prosciutto that offer a wonderful contrast in texture and flavor. The sauce is a creamy, buttery dream, generously infused with the sharpness of nutty Parmesan and a hint of freshly ground black pepper that truly elevates every forkful. This is a comforting, easy-to-love meal that will become a reliable choice for busy evenings when you still want something genuinely delicious and satisfying on the table.
While this recipe shines in its classic form, you can easily adjust the seasoning to your preference. Feel free to increase the amount of freshly ground black pepper for a bolder kick or dial it back for a milder profile. The salt is listed as "to taste," so ensure you adjust it carefully, taking into account the natural saltiness contributed by both the savory prosciutto and the rich Parmesan cheese. You could also vary the texture of the prosciutto slightly by cooking it to your desired level of crispness, from tender-chewy to delightfully brittle.
This Prosciutto Pasta with Peas and Parmesan Cheese makes an ideal family dinner or a quick, impressive meal for guests during the week. Its comforting yet refined nature is perfect for a cozy evening in or a casual gathering. Serve it simply in a large, warm bowl, perhaps with a final flourish of freshly grated Parmesan on top, allowing its inherent richness and vibrant colors to speak for themselves. It’s a complete and satisfying meal on its own, requiring little else to create a truly delicious experience.