Mary Berry's creamy pasta recipe, which takes just 15 minutes to prepare, offers a simple solution for busy weeknight family dinners. The dish, originally published in her book Mary Berry Cooks, has been shared again on The Happy Foodie website, where it has received glowing feedback.
A Standby Supper for All Occasions
Presenting the straightforward recipe, Mary explains: "This is my standby pasta supper - great for everyday family meals or for casual supper parties too. If you don't have Parma ham, then Black Forest ham or Serrano ham work just as well."
The recipe has won praise from home cooks. One enthusiast commented: "Have used this recipe for many years. I have always had friends and family ask for more. Sometimes I use cream cheese. Love it. One of my easy to make recipes."
What You Need to Make It
To serve six, the ingredients are: 350g of penne pasta, two tablespoons of vegetable oil, two 80g packs of Parma ham snipped into small pieces, 250g of small chestnut mushrooms (halved or quartered), 200g of full-fat crème fraîche, 100g of Parmesan cheese (grated), two tablespoons of chopped parsley, plus salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Mary notes: "If you have leftover double cream, you can use this instead of crème fraîche. For special occasions add a pack of asparagus tips to the pasta four minutes before the end of cooking time, then drain with the pasta."
Simple Steps to Finish
Begin by preparing the pasta following the package directions, then drain and leave to one side. Warm the oil in a frying pan and add half the Parma ham, cooking until crispy, then set the crispy ham aside.
Add the mushrooms to the heated pan and cook for a few minutes, then incorporate the crème fraîche and bring to the boil. Combine the cooked pasta, Parmesan, uncooked ham and parsley. Mix together over the heat, add seasoning, and serve straight away, garnished with the crisped ham. One cook remarked: "I don't mind pasta but I'm not a massive pasta eater either, this could convert me - it is truly delicious and easy." Another added: "First time trying this dish and it was very tasty and full of flavour. This will now become one of my go to dishes. Thank you Mary Berry for a quick delicious dish."
