Prosciutto Pasta Cream Sauce (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

→ Main

01 - 225 g uncooked pappardelle pasta
02 - 85 g thinly sliced prosciutto

→ Sauce

03 - 15 ml olive oil
04 - 15 g unsalted butter
05 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 180 ml heavy cream
07 - 1 medium tomato, finely chopped
08 - 45 g frozen peas
09 - 1 dash Italian seasoning
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh basil, sliced or chopped
11 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ To Serve

12 - Freshly grated parmesan cheese, to taste (optional)

# Instructions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve a small amount of pasta water before draining.
02 - While pasta cooks, heat olive oil and butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add prosciutto in a single layer; cook in batches if necessary. Sauté for 3–4 minutes, flipping halfway, until edges are crisp but still pliable. Set prosciutto aside on a paper towel-lined plate. Retain rendered fat in skillet.
03 - Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic to skillet and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant, stirring frequently.
04 - Add heavy cream, chopped tomato, peas, and Italian seasoning to the skillet. Simmer gently for 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce begins to thicken.
05 - Crumble cooled prosciutto by hand. Add a portion of the prosciutto and sliced basil to the sauce, reserving some prosciutto for garnish. Mix well.
06 - Add drained pasta to the skillet. Toss thoroughly to coat in cream sauce. If the sauce feels too thick, incorporate a splash of reserved hot pasta water to loosen as needed.
07 - Plate pasta and garnish with remaining prosciutto, additional parmesan and fresh basil if desired. Season with extra salt and black pepper to taste.

# Notes:

01 - For a lighter sauce, substitute half of the cream with whole milk; serve with a fresh salad or crusty bread for a more filling meal.