Pasta with 15-Minute Ham, Pea, and Cream Sauce

A creamy and comforting pasta dish featuring farfalle tossed with ham, sweet peas, and shallots in a luxurious cream sauce brightened with lemon zest and fresh parsley.

4 servings
25 min

Ingredients

  • 1 pound farfalle or other short pasta
  • 1 to taste Kosher salt
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup shallots
  • 4 ounces thick-cut ham
  • 1 cup peas
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • tablespoons lemon zest
  • 2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 1 to taste black pepper
  • 1 to taste Parmesan cheese

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Cook farfalle in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente; drain, reserving 2 Tbsp. pasta cooking liquid.

    12 min

  2. 2.

    Meanwhile, heat oil in a medium skillet over medium-high. Add shallots and 1/2 tsp. salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes (do not brown). Add ham, peas, and cream. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in lemon zest, 2 Tbsp. parsley, and 1/2 tsp. pepper.

    10 min

  3. 3.

    Return pasta to pot. Toss with sauce and reserved pasta cooking liquid; season with salt and pepper. Divide among plates, then top with parsley and Parmesan and season with more pepper.

    3 min