Tortellini with Ham and Peas - Tortellini alla Panna

This dish is classically called tortellini alla panna, which translates to tortellini with cream. The dish does have a light cream sauce, but it most always includes ham and peas and for some reason that's not mentioned. 

An Easy Weeknight Meal

This is a fast weeknight meal if you purchase the tortellini as I am doing today. You can buy excellent fresh cheese tortellini in most grocers now and if not they usually have frozen. Either will work well in this dish. The chewy al dente texture tends to be best in the fresh version, but use what you can get. 

Regarding the ham in the dish, today I used 4 ounces of prosciutto that I had on hand. But if you have some good quality thinly sliced deli ham, that will work fine too and likely cost much less. 

Ingredients

Ingredients

16 ounces cheese tortellini 
1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon butter

1 shallot or small onion, finely chopped
4 ounces good quality ham, cut into 1-inch or so pieces

   See note above for ham types. 
1 cup fresh or frozen peas
1 cup chicken broth
small pinch dried oregano 

small pinch dried basil

1/4 to 1/2 cup heavy cream
salt to taste

crushed red pepper (optional pinch)
Grated Parmesan cheese for serving

Instructions
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil according to tortellini package instructions. Add tortellini to the pot and cook while you prepare the other ingredients.

Heat oil on medium in a large non-stick skillet or sauté pan. Add butter and melt, then add the chopped shallot/onion and stir while cooking 2-3 minutes. Add the ham and stir to combine for a minute or two and then add the peas, chicken broth, oregano and basil and simmer gently for 5 or so minutes while the tortellini is just getting tender.

Using a slotted spoon, add the tortellini to the skillet with the other ingredients and combine and cook for another 2-3 minutes or until there is just about 1/2 cup of liquid. Then reduce heat to low and stir in the cream and combine. Taste and add salt as needed plus optional crushed red pepper and stir until warmed and sauce has thickened. Top with grated cheese and serve.