Penne With Peas, Ham and Cheese

Submitted by GIBride01

"No cook sauce that tastes like you spent some time on it. Any hard cheese will work, parmesan and peccarino both have worked well for me. Can lighten the dish using part skim ricotta if desired. Simple, easy and delicious. From Mark Bittmans "How to Cook Everything" with adaptions for our taste. This recipe can be halved to serve 2 people generously."

 

• Ready In: 25mins
• Ingredients: 7
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 1 lb penne pasta
• 1 cup peas, frozen or fresh
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 tablespoon butter, softened
• 1⁄2 - 1 cup ham, chopped
• 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated
• pepper

directions

1. Bring large pot water to boil, salt water liberally.
2. Cook penne until done, according to package directions.
3. Brown ham in pan.
4. Add peas to boiling water during last 2-3 minutes of pasta cooking.
5. While pasta is cooking, mix cheese's and butter in bowl and set aside.
6. Reserve approximately 1 cup pasta cooking water, drain pasta, no need to rinse.
7. Add enough pasta cooking water to thin cheese and butter mixture to a sauce consistency.
8. Add pasta and peas with ham to cheese mixture, stir well, adding extra pasta water as needed to thin sauce.
9. Add extra Parmesan to pasta, add pepper to taste.