Baked Pasta with Ham and Peas

Baked pasta with ham and peas is a hearty and delicious dish. Here is a recipe you can try:

Ingredients

• 500 grams of short pasta (such as penne or rigatoni)
• 150 grams of diced cooked ham
• 200 grams of peas (fresh or frozen)
• 400 grams of tomato puree
• 250 grams of béchamel sauce
• 150 grams of diced mozzarella
• 50 grams of grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Extra virgin olive oil
• A pinch of nutmeg (optional)
• Butter for greasing the baking dish

Preparation

1. In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente, following the instructions on the package. Drain and set aside.
2. Meanwhile, in a frying pan with a drizzle of oil, lightly sauté the diced cooked ham until it becomes crispy.
3. Add the peas (if they are frozen, let them thaw slightly first) and cook for a few minutes together with the ham.
4. Add the tomato puree to the pan with ham and peas. Season with salt, pepper, and add a pinch of nutmeg if you like. Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes, until the sauce has thickened slightly.
5. Prepare the béchamel sauce by melting butter in a saucepan, add flour a little at a time stirring to prevent lumps, then pour in the hot milk and cook until it thickens. Add salt, pepper, and nutmeg to taste.
6. Preheat the oven to 180 °C (356 °F).
7. In a large bowl, mix the pasta with the ham and pea sauce, the béchamel, and half of the mozzarella.
8. Butter a baking dish and pour the pasta mixture into it. Spread the rest of the mozzarella cubes on top and sprinkle with the grated Parmesan.
9. Bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until the surface is golden and crispy.
10. Let it rest for a few minutes before serving.

Trivia

Baked pasta is a classic of Italian home cooking, often served during Sunday lunch or on festive occasions. In some regional variations, other types of cheese or even hard-boiled eggs are added to the dish to enrich it further.