Penne al baffo

Penne al Baffo is a creamy, appetizing dish that’s highly appreciated in Italian cuisine. Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients

• 320g of penne rigate (or another type of pasta of your choice)
• 200 ml of cooking cream
• 200 ml of tomato sauce
• 80g of diced cooked ham
• 1/2 small onion
• Extra virgin olive oil (as needed)
• Salt and pepper (as needed)
• Grated Parmesan cheese (to taste)
• A pinch of nutmeg (optional)

Preparation

1. Start by finely chopping the onion and sauté it in a pan with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
2. Add the diced cooked ham and let it flavor for a few minutes.
3. Pour the tomato sauce into the pan, mix well and let it cook for about 10 minutes over medium heat, adjusting with salt and pepper.
4. Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne rigate according to the package instructions for al dente pasta.
5. After the tomato sauce has had time to flavor, add the cooking cream and mix well. If you like, you can add a pinch of nutmeg.
6. Let the sauce cook for another 5 minutes until it becomes creamy and even.
7. Drain the pasta al dente, pour it into the pan with the sauce and toss everything together to amalgamate the ingredients.
8. Serve the Penne al Baffo hot, with a sprinkling of grated Parmesan cheese to taste.

Curiosity

The name “Penne al Baffo” comes from the creamy texture and the speed with which this dish is eaten, often leaving a trace of sauce around the mouth, like a mustache (baffo in Italian). It is a dish loved by both adults and children for its creaminess and delicate flavor. You can personalize it by adding mushrooms or peas to enrich it further.