This dish makes an easy meal on busy nights but is also perfect for serving guests. Sweet peas and salty prosciutto compliment this creamy white sauce beautifully in a dish that is easy gourmet for any night of the week.
Peas and Prosciutto in White Sauce was first introduced in our house when I had a hunk of prosciutto languishing in the refrigerator. Who just has a hunk of prosciutto laying around?! Somehow we did, and life was insanely busy for me at that time with 3 young children, 2 we were homeschooling, and a new book edit. My husband asked what I had planned for the prosciutto so I described the recipe below. It was delicious but we made a few tweaks along the way and here it is for you.
You might think this dish is a little heavy for spring but peas are pretty much synonymous with spring so we say it’s just perfect for an easy gourmet meal any time of year. Plus, dousing peas in white sauce is one way to get my pickiest kid to eat her peas without a fuss so I’ll take it.
Serve this sauce over pasta or mashed potatoes. If you are feeling ambitious, you can even try making your own pasta. If you have a pasta maker it isn’t much more work at all. Rolling it by hand? Save this dish for a special occasion. I may have had to take a bite before I cleaned all the flour off my hands as evidenced in the photo.
Peas & Prosciutto in White Sauce
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4 tablespoons flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 cups milk
- 2 cups peas*
- 1/2 pound prosciutto, cut in small cubes
- 1 clove garlic, sliced thin
- 4 ounces shredded cheese (such as Italian blend)
- 1 teaspoon oil
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a high-edged saute pan or stock pot over medium heat.
- Stir in flour, salt, and pepper.
- Bring it to a bubble.
- Slowly add milk, 1 cup at a time, stirring well until thickened after each cup is added.
- Stir often so it doesn’t scorch to the bottom until thickened.
- Meanwhile, in a saute pan, heat oil then add garlic and prosciutto.
- Fry until edges of prosciutto are crispy and lightly browned.
- Add to white sauce when it is thick.
- Add cheese to the sauce and stir until melted.
- Serve
Notes
- Use fresh or frozen peas. If using fresh peas, put in a steamer basket over a pan of boiling water. Cover and cook until just tender, approximately 5 minutes.
- Calorie count was figured using 2% milk.
Nutrition
- Calories: 379
2 Comments