Pea and Prosciutto Pasta – forget unhealthy supermarket versions

My son Will loves pasta but supermarket varieties with sauce can come in at over 500 calories for just half a pack. So, I embarked on a mission to find healthier, yummier alternatives and Pea and Prosciutto Pasta from Justine Pattison has become his favourite.

The calorie count for this recipe is 329 per serving, however the addition of the butter and a splash of single cream still makes it feel sufficiently naughty and Will regards this as a proper treat. If you’re a big pasta fan, Justine’s book Without the Calories – pasta and rice, will be right up your street. You can also find more pasta dishes on this blog here. 

Recipe: Pea and Prosciutto Pasta

Calories: 329 calories per serving

Serves: 4

Book: Justine Pattison: Without the Calories – pasta and rice

Prep time: Approx 5 mins

Cooking time: Approx 12 mins

Ingredients: 200g dried pasta shapes (such as gigli or penne), 15g butter, 1 small onion (thinly sliced), 1 garlic clove (crushed), 6 slices of prosciutto (torn into wide strips), 100ml single cream, 150g frozen peas, ground black pepper

Cost per portion: Approx £0.91

Method: Half fill a large pan with water and bring it to the boil. Add the pasta and cook for 10-12 minutes, or according to the packet instructions, until tender.

While the pasta is cooking, melt the butter in medium non-stick frying pan and gently cook the onion for 3 minutes or until very tender, stirring regularly. If the onion starts to stick, just add a splash of water and continue cooking. Stir in the garlic and prosciutto and cook for a few seconds more.

Stir in the single cream and the peas. Season with black pepper and warm together for 1-2 minutes, stirring regularly. Don’t let the sauce simmer or the cream may separate.

Drain the pasta and return it to the saucepan. Tip the sauce on top and toss together with 2 forks until combined. Divide the pasta between 4 warmed plates and serve with a large salad.