Mary Berry's six-ingredient pasta dish, described as a standby supper that 'everyone loves,' can be prepared in just 15 minutes. The recipe, shared by the beloved British baker and cook, features a creme fraiche-based sauce topped with crispy Parma ham.
Recipe Details and Ingredients
The recipe notes state: 'This is my standby pasta supper as it is so delicious, so quick, and everyone loves it. Great for everyday use or casual supper parties, too. Its base is a creme fraiche pasta sauce, and it's topped with crispy Parma ham, which gives tons of flavour and great texture.' The dish serves six people and can easily be halved or doubled for leftovers.
Ingredients include 350g penne pasta, two 80g packs of Parma ham snipped into small pieces, 250g small brown chestnut mushrooms halved or quartered, 200g full-fat creme fraiche, 100g grated Parmesan, and two tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley. To serve, Mary recommends a green salad and crunchy bread.
Cooking Method and Tips
To prepare, cook the pasta in boiling salted water according to package instructions, then drain and set aside. Heat a frying pan until hot, add the Parma ham, and fry until crisp. Transfer half the ham to a plate and set aside. Add the mushrooms to the pan and fry for two minutes. Add the creme fraiche and bring to a boil, then toss in the pasta, Parmesan, and parsley over the heat. Season well with salt and pepper.
Mary advises that if using reduced-fat creme fraiche, stir it through at the end of cooking to prevent splitting. For special occasions, she suggests adding a pack of asparagus tips to the pasta four minutes before the end of cooking, then draining together.
