Mary Berry's 15-minute pasta recipe is a quick and easy weeknight meal that is packed full of flavour, and one that all the whole family will enjoy. The dish, which the veteran baker says "everyone loves," requires just 15 minutes to prepare and is ideal for hectic evenings when a swift and filling meal is needed without sacrificing taste.
A Standby Supper with Crispy Parma Ham
Mary Berry said of the recipe: "This is my standby pasta supper as it is so delicious, so quick, and everyone loves it. Great for everyday or for casual supper parties too. Its base is a crème fraîche pasta sauce, and it's topped with crispy Parma ham, which gives tons of flavour and great texture."
The recipe, which first appeared in Mary Berry Cooks, is designed to serve six people. It takes under 30 minutes to prepare and 10 to 30 minutes to cook.
Ingredients and Method
To make the dish, you will need 350g of penne pasta, two packs of 80g Parma ham, 250g of small brown chestnut mushrooms, 200g of full-fat crème fraîche, 100g of Parmesan, two tablespoons of fresh parsley, salt to taste and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
To start, fill a large pan with water and bring it to a boil. Add some salt before placing the penne in the boiling water. Cook according to the packet instructions, then once ready, drain the pasta and set it aside. Next, cut the Parma ham into bite-sized pieces.
Place a large frying pan over a high heat and, once hot, add the Parma ham and cook until crispy. Remove half of the crisped ham and set it aside on a plate. For the following stage, wipe the chestnut mushrooms clean and halve or quarter them according to their size. Tip them into the frying pan and cook for two minutes.
Serving the Dish
Pour the crème fraîche into the pan and bring to the boil, before adding the cooked pasta, grated Parmesan and freshly chopped parsley. Stir everything together over the heat until the pasta is thoroughly coated in the rich, creamy sauce. Season generously with salt and pepper before serving straight away, accompanied by a crisp green salad and crusty bread.
Alternatively, you can discover how to make Mary Berry's lasagne. Mary's version of the classic Italian lasagne is "wonderfully different" while remaining packed with flavour. Rather than the conventional mozzarella topping, the veteran baker opts for a layer of mature cheddar, providing the dish with her own unique touch. The lasagne requires just 30 minutes to put together, with an additional 30 minutes to one hour of cooking time.
