Creamy Pasta with Peas & Ham

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A quick and deliciously creamy pasta dish that comes together in minutes! This is my go to recipe when I am having a busy night and just want something filling and effortless. Peas and ham are a marriage made in heaven!

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Creamy Shells with Peas & Ham

Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Keyword Pasta, Pasta with peas & ham

Ingredients

  • 1 lb 450g Pasta Shells
  • 1 Shallot Diced
  • 2 cups 320g Frozen Peas
  • 1/4 cup 85g Water, for steaming
  • 6 slices of Ham cut into cubes
  • 5 tbsp 71g Unsalted Butter
  • 1/4 cup 32g AP Flour
  • 4 cups 1 liter Warm Milk
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • Pepper to taste
  • 1/4 tsp Freshly Grated Nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup 60g Freshly Grated Parmigiano Reggiano

Instructions

  • Into a medium sauce pan melt butter, add flour and whisk to prevent lumps. Cook for a few minutes to remove the raw flour flavor.
  • Add in a little more milk and whisk vigorously to ensure that there are no lumps in the sauce.
  • Then strip slowly stream in the rest of the milk whisking all the while.
  • Once you added all the milk switch to a wooden spoon and cook until thickened, or until it coats the back of the spoon. Add in grated cheese and stir. Set aside.
  • Into a sauté pan, add olive oil and shallot. Sauté until softened, then add frozen peas and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Add in a quarter cup of water to help the peas steam and cover.
  • Once the peas are tender add in the ham and cook for a few minutes.
  • Boil the pasta according to the package instructions, drain and add pea mixture and béchamel sauce and mix.
  • Top with more freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano and enjoy!

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