“PENNE AL BAFFO” – A whiskers-lickin’ Creamy Tomato-ham pasta.

The origins of the recipe are uncertain; it is said around the 80s. The name would be due to the velvety and creamy sauce that would make diners "lick their whiskers", an Italian expression equivalent to “finger lickin’good”, that indicates the particular tasty nature of this dish, so simple, feasible, quick, and not very complicated.
A comfortable evening meal, also to be prepared at the last minute for friends and kids.


Ingredients 4 servings:

11 oz penne pasta
3.5 oz uncured boiled ham (remove skin) sliced or cubed
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup tomato sauce
1 tbsp tomato concentrate paste (for color and texture)
½ onion
5 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
½ tsp black pepper
A little bunch of parsley
Salt to taste as needed


Instructions:

Finely mince the parsley and set aside.
Finely mince the onion, then sauté it in olive oil over low heat until translucent.
Slice the ham and add it to the onion.
Sauté until slightly crispy, then sprinkle a pinch of ground black pepper.
Stir in the tomato sauce, then the tomato paste.
Simmer for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, start cooking the penne in a pot of salted water, according to package instructions.
Stir the heavy cream into the sauce, and add some minced parsley (keep some for final garnish), then remove from the heat and set aside.
A minute before the pasta is done, drain it, reheat the sauce, and drop the pasta into the pan, stirring well to combine.
Garnish with some minced parsley and serve hot
Enjoy and buon appetito!!