Garganelli with prosciutto and peas

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Serves: Four


INGREDIENTS

  • 8 ounces (250 grams) garganelli
  • 1/3 cup butter
  • 1 cup grated Parmigiano
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 3 ounces (90 grams) prosciutto, sliced
  • 4 ounces (125 grams) frozen or fresh peas
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper

METHOD

Cook pasta in a large pot of lightly salted boiling water. Drain when al dente, reserving 1/4 cup of the pasta water. Return pasta to cooking pot. Stir in half the butter and half of Parmigiano.

Place a skillet over medium heat, while pasta is cooking and add remaining butter. Add chopped onion and prosciutto. Sauté gently without allowing it to colour, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium low. Stir in peas and season with salt and pepper. Add reserved pasta water to cook peas. Simmer until peas are just tender, about 3 to 4 minutes.

Add pasta to skillet and stir together. Bring to the table with remaining Parmigiano, serve separately.


WINE PAIRINGS

There’s nothing in Italy’s hallowed food region of Emilia-Romagna to rival the reputation of Chianti or Brunello di Montalcino from next-door Tuscany. In fact, Emilia-Romagna is home to one of the most maligned wines ever, lambrusco, a typically frothy, often sweet red popular during the disco era that went by such brand names as Riunite and Chiarli Castelvetro. If you can find a good, dry lambrusco (they exist now), try it with the garganelli. Beppi Crosariol