Tortellini with Pesto, Peas and Crispy Prosciutto
Call me a genius with this recipe, but I think I’ve discovered quick, easy, weeknight-cooking nirvana with this one!
Now that life is slowly returning back to normal, our life is returning back to its normal, hectic state. As much as I loved the slow-cooking and baking that quarantine begged for, it’s back to easy, quick, healthy and tasty recipes to get us through busy weeks.
This tortellini with pesto, peas and crispy prosciutto is the poster child of such recipes. At first glance, you’re probably thinking “this looks like a fancy, restaurant-quality recipe, how the heck does this classify as a quick, easy weeknight recipe?!”
As delicious and elevated as this recipe looks, it’s all about the shortcuts to make this dish come to life in a matter of minutes. Store-bought cheese tortellini and pesto come in clutch with making this recipe a time-saver. Of course, you’re welcome to make homemade pesto if you have time or have it on hand!
I love the addition of peas in this creamy, herby and garlicky pasta for that burst of green color and nutrients, of course. But really, this recipe is all about the crispy prosciutto! An already perfectly tasty pesto pasta gets amped up to an 11 with crispy, salty, meat condiments on top. With every bite, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to your favorite Italian restaurant on your average weeknight.
Tortellini with Pesto, Peas and Crispy Prosciutto
Ingredients
1 lb cheese tortellini
1 cup frozen petite peas
4 oz prosciutto, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup pesto (store-bought or homemade)
Directions
Cook tortellini according to package directions in a large pot of boiling, salted water. Once tortellini has only a minute or so left of cook time, reserve about a cup of pasta water then add frozen peas to the pot so they can blanche. Drain pasta and peas and set aside.
Meanwhile, heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Crisp prosciutto, stirring frequently, for 5-8 minutes until prosciutto is crispy and browned. Remove from pan and set on a towel-lined plate to drain any excess fat.
