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Pasta with Prosciutto, Snap Peas, Mint and Cream

Your Best Recipe for Spring Peas Contest Winner!

Pasta with Prosciutto, Snap Peas, Mint and Cream

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by Sarah Shatz

Pasta with Prosciutto, Snap Peas, Mint and Cream

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by Sarah Shatz

Pasta with Prosciutto, Snap Peas, Mint and Cream

Photo 3 of 4
by lechef

Pasta with Prosciutto, Snap Peas, Mint and Cream

Photo 4 of 4
by lechef

Slideshow
  • This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Recipe for Spring Peas
  • A&M's Testing Notes: Although it may sound very rich, there are several details that keep this pasta sprightly and fresh, rather than heavy. First, lechef is not shy with the big flavors: 4 cloves of garlic, 4...

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  • Chef

    lechef's Notes: This is a play on a classic: peas, prosciutto, cream and pasta. I make a pasta with jalapenos, cream and prosciutto, and so I built this sauce the same way but used peas instead of jalapenos...

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Serves 4

  1. In a heavy saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat and cook the garlic for 2-3 minutes until just beginning to color.

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  2. Add the prosciutto and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes. I use whole prosciutto shanks because my butcher has them, but you can also ask for a 1/4 inch thick slice of prosciutto and chop that up instead. I think this works much better in pasta than thin slices.

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  3. Add the shallots and cook for 3-4 minutes to soften, and season with a pinch or two of salt and a turn or two of fresh black pepper.

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  4. Meanwhile, bring your pasta water to a boil, salt it, and add your pasta. You will want to time the pasta to be finished just as the sauce is finishing so that the cream doesn't sit long.

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  5. With about 3 minutes left on your pasta, add the peas and cook for 2 minutes. We want them to retain their crunch. With one minute remaining, add the cream and quickly bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Add the cheese, stir, and reduce the heat to low.

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  6. Drain the pasta, and toss with the sauce to coat. Sprinkle liberally with fresh mint, and serve with black pepper and extra Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

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Reply

I'd love to make this with my homemade duck prosciutto! Nom nom nom!

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This looks great but I agree the mint is totally not needed and does not really compliment the dish. 3 stars out of 5. Carbonara is much better.

Alex_september_015 Reply

My husband--the cook in our family--is away and your wonderful and relatively easy recipe really saved my bacon. It was so delicious that my son confirmed (2x): "You made this Mama? It's really good!" (I was not hurt) The small hints and asides about how to buy the prosciutto and how to time everything were so helpful. Thanks, lechef!

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I just made this and it is amazing. I used a pancetta slab instead and crisped it. The mint is DIVINE in this dish; it eally adds a unique but very complementary flavor.

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This was tonight's dinner and it was wonderful! It will be on the menu for the next girls' night dinner party. I know it will be a hit!

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Made this tonight and loved it!

Mwd Reply

we made this last week for a friend and while we all three thought the mint was perhaps a little out of place (though definitely not bad) the rest of the dish was amazing and absolutely a keeper.

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The perfect prosciutto for this would be La Quercia Crumble -- ground prosciutto totally ready to use and well priced for cooking. I agree that thinly sliced prosciutto would get rather lost in the mix.

Meat_helmet Reply

Ground prosciutto would definitely work here, and would save you the chopping time. I usually go for a 1/4 inch dice on the prosciutto shanks I use, just because I prefer the intense flavor in a larger bite.

Kay_at_lake Reply

On my list to try....Looks and sounds so good! Congratulations!

Meat_helmet Reply

Thanks everyone!

Reply

This was a very fun recipe to make and a perfect spring dish.

Kk2 Reply

Sounds great! I cook with orechiette frequently so I can't wait to try this!

Mrs Reply

congrats, lechef! a lovely recipe!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

Congratulations, lechef!

2-11_016 Reply

This is my kind of recipe~with good balance of flavors and textures. I wonder if a touch of those jalapenos from your other recipe might work well in it too.

Meat_helmet Reply

I will never say "no" to extra heat in my pastas. Give it a shot!

Reply

Drew........your the man

Carnival17 Reply

I made this for dinner tonight, and even my kids cleaned their plates. Perfect spring recipe!

Kay_at_lake Reply

Got my vote. Sounds marvelous!

Dsc_0019_2 Reply

This is a great recipe, love the use of prosciutto in it!

Chocolate_peppermint_truffle_cookies_032 Reply

This looks decadent and absolutely delicious! Congrats on being a finalist!

Green_apple_card Reply

I make something similar with crispy prosciutto and it's simply addictive. I love the idea of using the snap peas. Congratulations!

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