Creamy And Comforting Penne Al Baffo In Less Than 30 Minutes

heavy cream

🥗Healthier: Greek yogurt

💰Cheaper: milk + cornstarch

Greek yogurt reduces calories while maintaining creaminess

pancetta

🥗Healthier: turkey bacon

💰Cheaper: bacon

Turkey bacon is lower in fat and calories.

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grana padano

Nutritional yeast is dairy-free and adds a cheesy flavor.

Boil water in a large pot on medium heat.

Add 3 tablespoons of olive oil to a 12-inch skillet to coat the bottom.

Add 2 tablespoons of butter to the skillet.

Chop and add 1 medium onion to the skillet, sauté for about 2 minutes until softened.

Add 0.5 pound of diced Boar's Head Deluxe deli ham to the skillet, breaking it up as much as possible.

Increase heat to about 7 out of 10 to get a little color on the ham.

Add 2 tablespoons of kosher salt to a gallon of boiling water for the pasta.

Cook the penne pasta for 9 minutes (1 minute less than the package instructions for Al Dente).

Lower the heat in the skillet to about 4 out of 10 and add 1 cup of passata, letting it simmer for about 5 minutes.

Add 1 cup of heavy cream to the skillet and let it come to a low simmer, stirring occasionally.

Once the sauce thickens slightly, turn off the heat.

Drain the penne pasta, reserving some pasta water, and add it to the sauce in the skillet.

Mix the pasta with the sauce, adding a little reserved pasta water if it gets too thick.

Add chopped parsley for garnish and serve.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens