Pea Pesto Prosciutto & Cream Pasta

Pasta Ribbons with Peas, Prosciutto, Cream and Spring Pesto

This recipe was featured in Every Day with Rachael RayMagazine.

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Ingredients

• Salt and Pepper
• 1 pound curly-edged, long-cut pasta, such as riccia or long, wide pasta
• For the Pesto:
• About 3 tablespoons pine nuts or sliced almonds
• 1 cup flat-leaf parsley (a few handfuls)
• About 1/2 cup fresh tarragon leaves
• About 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves (a heavy handful)
• 2 cloves of garlic, pasted or finely grated
• About 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• A handful grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, plus more for serving
• About 1/4 cup EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• For the Cream Sauce:
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 large shallot, finely chopped
• 1/4 pound thick-cut prosciutto, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
• 1 10-ounce box frozen organic sweet peas
• 1/2 cup white wine or chicken stock
• 1 cup heavy cream

Yields: Serves 4

Preparation

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it and add the pasta. Cook to al dente; drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water.

While the pasta is working, lightly toast the nuts for the pesto.

Combine the pesto ingredients, including the toasted nuts, in a food processor and pulse into a paste.

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat, add the shallot and stir for a couple of minutes. Add the prosciutto and stir for a minute more, then add the peas and stir to heat through. Stir in the wine (or stock) and cook to reduce, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the cream and season with salt and pepper. Lower the heat and let bubble; let bubble and thicken for a few minutes.

Toss the pasta with the cream sauce and the pesto, using a splash of reserved cooking water to loosen if desired. Pass the extra cheese at the table.