Pasta with Zucchini and Ham

Pasta with zucchini and ham is a simple but very tasty dish, perfect for a summer dinner. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

• 320g of pasta (penne or spaghetti work well)
• 2 medium zucchini
• 100g of cooked ham, preferably in a single slice to be cut into cubes
• 1 small onion
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Preparation

1. Put the water for the pasta to boil in a large pot and cook the pasta according to the package instructions, until it reaches the desired doneness (al dente is ideal).

2. Meanwhile, wash the zucchini, slice them not too thinly and then cut them in half, to obtain semicircles.

3. Peel the onion, slice it finely and sauté it in a pan with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

4. Once the onion becomes transparent, add the cut zucchini and let them cook over medium-high heat for about 5-10 minutes, until they are slightly golden.

5. Cut the cooked ham into cubes and add it to the zucchini. Let it flavor for a couple of minutes.

6. Drain the pasta and toss it in the pan with the zucchini and ham, stirring well for a few minutes.

7. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

8. Serve hot, sprinkled with grated Parmesan cheese if you like.

Curiosity

If you want an even richer dish, you can add some cooking cream shortly before incorporating the pasta, thus creating a creamier version of the recipe. Additionally, if you prefer, you can replace the cooked ham with raw ham added at the end of cooking to preserve its flavor and texture.