English Pea Pesto Pasta With Ham

English Pea Pesto and Spaghetti
Diana Rattray
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 18 mins
Total: 33 mins
Servings: 6 servings

The natural sweetness and beautiful color of English peas make them a great addition to pesto. This pesto is easy to make and a delicious and easy pasta addition.

Feel free to use cooked diced bacon in the dish or omit the ham for a vegetarian dish.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound spaghetti, or linguine

  • 8 ounces ham, finely diced

  • 2 teaspoons olive oil, or unsalted butter

  • 1 cup frozen petite green peas, thawed or lightly cooked

  • 3/4 cup torn basil leaves, packed

  • 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1/4 cup walnuts, optional

  • 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • Salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Cook spaghetti or linguine in boiling salted water following package directions. Drain.

  3. Meanwhile, in a small skillet over medium heat, lightly brown the ham in 2 teaspoons of olive oil or butter.

  4. Meanwhile, for pesto, combine in a food processor the peas, basil, Parmesan cheese, garlic, and walnuts, if using.

  5. Run the food processor, adding olive oil a little at a time, until the mixture is finely chopped.

  6. Taste and add salt and pepper, as needed.

  7. Toss the diced ham and pesto with the hot pasta.

  8. Serve with more Parmesan cheese.

  9. Enjoy.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
321 Calories
16g Fat
28g Carbs
15g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 321
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 16g 21%
Saturated Fat 3g 14%
Cholesterol 28mg 9%
Sodium 546mg 24%
Total Carbohydrate 28g 10%
Dietary Fiber 3g 9%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 15g
Vitamin C 5mg 23%
Calcium 60mg 5%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 293mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)