Pasta with Ham and Peas

Ingredients

• 3/4 pound fusili pasta
• Salt
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 1/2 cups diced ham
• 1 1/2 cups frozen peas
• 1/2 cup cream
• 1 cup of pasta cooking water
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 3/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

Directions

1. Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot with 2 Tbsp salt. Add the pasta, then cook it uncovered at a lively boil until it is al dente: tender all the way through, with a little firmness left when you bite it, using the shorter end of the package timing as your guide. Drain the pasta, but save 1 cup of the cooking water first.
2. As the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the ham and frozen peas, and stir them into the garlicky butter.
3. Pour in 1 cup of the reserved pasta water; it will help warm the peas. Mix in 1/2 cup of cream, the Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and lemon zest.
4. When the pasta is ready, put it in a serving bowl, add the sauce, toss everything together, and serve.