Pizza-pasta with ham crisps
Serves 4 | prep 20 mins | total time
Pizza-pasta with ham crisps
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Serves 4 | prep 20 mins | total time
In most homes, pasta is a guaranteed winner. This one is a bit of fun – topping it with the mozzarella in a large bowl makes it look a bit like pizza, and the ham or pepperoni crisps add to the effect. Although it sounds indulgent, it’s still pretty healthy
Rate
Nutritional information (per serving)
Calories
495Kcal
Fat
15gr
Saturates
6gr
Carbs
64gr
Sugars
12gr
Fibre
7gr
Protein
22gr
Salt
0.8gr
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 large courgettes, about 450g, coarsely grated
- 3 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes
- 1 tsp caster sugar
- 300g fusilli or other short pasta
- 4 slices of prosciutto crudo, or 6 slices of pepperoni
- 1 x 30g pack basil, leaves torn
- 125g mozzarella pearls, torn in half
Step by step
Get ahead
Cook a double batch of sauce and freeze in portions, or you can also freeze any leftover pasta in sauce
- Heat the oil in a large sauté or frying pan over a medium- high heat, and add the grated courgettes. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often, until softened and the moisture has evaporated. Add the garlic and fry for 2 minutes, then add the tomatoes and sugar. Bring to a fast simmer and cook, stirring often, for 20-25 minutes until the sauce has reduced and thickened, and the courgettes have pretty much dissolved into the sauce. Season to taste.
- While the sauce is bubbling, cook the pasta in plenty of salted boiling water until just al dente. Put the ham or pepperoni on a non-metallic dinner plate and microwave for 2-3 minutes until completely crispy. Transfer to a sheet of kitchen paper to cool, then break into crisps. If you don’t have a microwave, fry them in a tiny bit of oil over a high heat for a few minutes, then drain as before.
- Once the pasta is just under al dente, transfer a couple of ladles of the cooking water to the sauce, then drain the pasta and add to the pan of sauce, with most of the basil (or serve this separately for a milder flavour). Put over a medium heat, stir everything together, and let it bubble to reduce for a couple of minutes, stirring to combine and coat in the sauce. Check the seasoning, then transfer to a shallow, wide serving dish and top with the halved mozzarella pearls, the ham or pepperoni crisps, and the remaining basil leaves, and grated Parmesan if using. Take to the table and allow everyone to serve themselves.
