There’s one thing I’ve learned while recreating my grandmother’s tried and true Italian recipes: Use the best ingredients that your budget can afford. Good quality ingredients make all the difference. I use fresh vegetables and whole unprocessed ingredients whenever possible. Speck ham is the star of this pasta dish, lending a salty flavor that balances perfectly with the sweetness of the peas.
Dating back to the year 1200, Speck is a lightly smoked and open-air cured ham made in Northern Italy. It is very much like to pancetta and can be used in similar ways in recipes, or enjoyed raw with fresh wine and cheese.
I’d never before cut a ham from the rind, but for this recipe I did just that while trimming the fat. I’m seriously considering going out and getting a slicer so that I can try it nice and thin with cantaloupe or frying it up like bacon. Yum.
Having always loved pasta and peas, I decided on incorporating Speck. And for me, tomatoes always have to be involved whenever pasta is concerned. The combination of all of the flavors is completely divine.
- 16 oz mafaldine #16 pasta or your favorite long noodle pasta
- 16 oz Speck ham diced
- 16 oz frozen peas
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes quartered
- 1 medium onion finely shopped
- 2/3 cup pecorino romano grated
- 2 tsp garlic minced
- 3 tbsp lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 1/2 tbsp salt
- 1 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 1/2 tbsp salt and 1/2 tbsp olive oil pasta.
- Meanwhile, saute ham in a pan for about 5 minutes and then set aside.
- Cook onion in the same saute pan with 1/2 tbsp olive oil until translucent.
- Add peas, minced garlic and tomatoes, stirring gently until peas are heated through.
- Toss in the cooked ham and cheese and mix well.
- Drain pasta, reserving a small amount of water to keep the noodles moist.
- Combine with the mixture with the pasta and lemon juice and serve.
Speck provided me with a sample to facilitate my recipe creation. No other compensation was received.
This definitely something my family would try because of the ham. Looks delicious!
I’ve never used Speck Ham before but this recipe sounds fantastic! I think I’ll have to give it a try!
I love easy recipes and one pot meals. Pasta and some protein, and veggies. Everything you need.
we made something similar it’s ham peas and oregano in a dijon/broth sauce. My kids love it.
I love the ham and peas combo! This was my first time using smoked Speck.
This sound delicious!! Don’t think I’ve ever had speck ham before!
Ooo, Heather, that looks fantastic! Thank you! It’s always nice to have a fresh recipe (sometimes the same ol’ thing gets tiring around here!)
That’s a great looking recipe. I know my family would enjoy the flavors.
That sounds like a yummy and easy recipe to make! I’m not a ham eater, but I’ll pass it on to friends and family who eat it!
This looks like an easy recipe to try at home!
Yum that looks really good,I love that kind of ham it is the best.