Pasta With Ham and Peas

Our answer

Nigella's Pasta With Ham, Peas and Cream (from Feast and on the Nigella website) is an easy and quick recioe that is popular with children. The cream and Parmesan make a sauce that coats the pasta.

If you can't use cream then butter would be a good alternative and makes a good sauce for pasta if mixed with some of the pasta cooking water. We would suggest about 30-45g (2-3 tablespoons) for the recipe. Before you drain the pasta carefully scoop out and reserve a cupful of the pasta cooking water. Add the butter to the drained pasta and peas and stir until melted, then add enough of the reserved pasta cooking water to make a thin sauce that can coat the pasta. Use unsalted butter as the pasta water and ham are both salty and you can always add an extra pinch of salt to taste afterwards. If you are avoiding dairy then you could try extra virgin olive oil instead of the butter.