The ham adds the substance that makes this a meal rather than a side dish, and the pasta, whatever shape you have on hand, carries everything together. A light dressing of olive oil and the juices the tomato releases as it warms is all the sauce this needs. No cream, no reduction, no extra pan. If you prefer this cold, it works equally well as a pasta salad, which makes it one of the more versatile summer recipes to have available.
This is a warm-weather dinner for two that comes together in the time it takes to cook the pasta. The cucumber is the ingredient worth noticing; raw in a warm pasta is not a combination most people try until they do, and then it becomes obvious that it should have been there all along.
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Key Ingredients in This Recipe
You’ll find the complete list of ingredients and exact quantities in the recipe below.
- Pasta – I used Cavatelli Pasta, one of my favorites; a small pasta with ridges.
- Cooked ham
- Cucumber
- Tomatoes – I was lucky to find mini San Marzano tomatoes; they are so full of flavor. When I find these tiny tomatoes, I usually buy extra, because during cutting, too many end up in my mouth.
- Parsley
- Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
How to Make Cucumber, Tomato and Ham Pasta
Step 1 – Cook the pasta according to the directions on the packaging.
Step 2 – Heat oil in a pan and cook the ham, just a little bit. Add the vegetables and warm them rather than cook them. You want the veggies to stay crunchy.
Step 3 – Drain the pasta and add it to the vegetables in the skillet and mix.
Step 4 – Add salt and pepper to taste, mix in some parsley.
No need for cream or oil or a heavy cheese sauce. Keep it light; it is almost summer. If you do like cheese, like I do, then shave some Parmigiano Reggiano on top.
Enjoy!
Cucumber, Tomato and Ham Pasta
Pin Recipe FacebookIngredients
- 4 ounces pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 ounces cooked ham
- 1/2 cucumber
- 8 ounces mini tomatoes
- 5 sprigs parsley
- Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package.
- Wash the cucumber and cut it in quarters and then in thin slices.
- Wash and cut the small tomatoes and cut the slices of cooked ham.
- Wash and chop the parsley and grate or the Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
- Heat the olive oil in a skillet and add the ham and cook for a few minutes.
- Add the cucumber and tomatoes and warm in the skillet, do not cook.
- Add pasta to vegetable mix and add salt and pepper to taste.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.