Baked penne with peas and ham for a tasty first course. How delicious Baked Pasta is! Always different and always special just as the recipe I want to share with you today. A white Baked Pasta with cooked ham and peas perfect for an important occasion or to make an ordinary day special. You can prepare it in advance and finish it off in the oven, making it convenient to prepare for when you have guests for lunch. A creamy béchamel sauce envelops the pasta making it special and then a delicious gratin makes the dish irresistible. I also recommend not missing the recipe for the Cannelloni with ricotta and spinach. So let’s head to the kitchen and prepare the Baked Pasta with peas
AND DON’T MISS THESE RECIPES TOO:
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 4People
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients for Baked Pasta
- 12 oz penne rigate
- 1.5 cups béchamel sauce
- 9 oz frozen peas
- 5 oz cooked ham (cubed)
- 1.75 oz grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 white onion (small)
- as needed extra virgin olive oil
- as needed salt
How to Prepare Baked Penne with Ham and Peas
Pour 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil into a saucepan, add the finely sliced onion and the peas still frozen. Lightly salt and let the peas cook over medium heat for 10-12 minutes. If they dry out too much, add a few tablespoons of water.
While the peas are cooking, cook the pasta as well. Drop the penne rigate into boiling water, salt, and let them cook for 10-12 minutes or as indicated on the pasta package you are using. For the béchamel sauce, you can follow my easy recipe on How to make béchamel sauce.
Drain the pasta and pour it into a bowl. Add the peas, cubed cooked ham, and béchamel sauce. Mix well with 2 tablespoons. Pour everything into a baking dish and top with grated Parmesan cheese.
Bake the pasta in a preheated static oven at 374°F for 18-20 minutes. In the last few minutes of cooking, set the oven to grill for an irresistible gratin.
See you tomorrow with a new recipe, hugs, Loredana
Loredana’s Tips
If you have leftover pasta, store it in a container in the fridge. You just need to reheat it for a few minutes in the hot oven or microwave.
For a tastier dish, you can add mozzarella or soft cheese cut into small cubes.
Don’t miss the recipe for Cannelloni with crepes and ricotta
