Guisantes con jamón: Receta fácil

How to make peas with ham?

If you've come this far, you're probably looking for a quick, healthy and easy recipe to save you a meal or dinner, so we have the solution.

Peas with ham are a classic of Spanish cuisine that never goes out of style. It's a simple dish, quick to prepare, and above all, healthy. This recipe combines the softness and sweetness of peas with the intense flavour of ham, creating a perfect combination. Also, if you add some broth, you'll get a restaurant-worthy dish.

Without further ado, let's go through the recipe step by step so you can have everything ready in less than 15 minutes.

What will you need?

  • 500 g fresh or frozen peas
  • 150 g diced Serrano ham
  • 1 medium onion
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt to taste
  • Ground black pepper (optional, but we recommend it)
  • 100 ml vegetable broth (optional)

For this recipe, the best pea option is the common or garden pea. Its sweet and mild flavor contrasts perfectly with the salty and intense flavor of the ham, and its texture is ideal for this type of preparation.

In addition, they are easy to find, either fresh or frozen, which makes it easy to use at any time.

And if you want the recipe to be even faster, you can use a can of already cooked peas and skip the boiling part.

peas

First steps

If you use fresh peas, the first thing you should do is shell them. If you use frozen peas, simply take them out of the freezer and let them sit at room temperature while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

Peel and finely chop the onion and garlic cloves. Then, cut the Serrano ham into small cubes or buy ham already cut into cubes.

Next, heat a couple of tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Once hot, add the chopped onion and fry it for a few minutes until it starts to turn transparent. Next, add the chopped garlic cloves and continue cooking for a couple more minutes, taking care not to burn them.

This step releases the aromas of the onion and garlic and creates a flavour base for our peas.

ham

Choosing a good ham

The important thing for this recipe to be worthy of a restaurant is the good choice of the star ingredients, both the peas and the ham.

The ham that we recommend if you want a star dish is the Jamón POD de Teruel, an excellent option for the peas with ham recipe, since it is known for its smooth and balanced flavor, with just the right touch of salt and a juicy texture.

This ham, protected by the Protected Designation of Origin (DOP), is made in the province of Teruel, where a rigorous curing process is followed that can last up to 18 months.

Its meat, from pigs of selected breeds, has an intense but not excessively salty flavor, which makes it the perfect complement to highlight the peas without overshadowing their natural sweetness.

However, if you do not have access to this product, a good alternative is to use another good quality but generally cheaper Serrano ham. Both offer an intense and salty flavor that complements the peas well.

And if you prefer something more economical, cured ham from a cellar also works very well, as it maintains that characteristic flavour without being so expensive. These hams will provide a good balance of flavour in the recipe, without losing the essence of the dish.

Final steps

When the onion and garlic are cooked, it's time to add the diced Serrano ham. Sauté everything together for 2-3 minutes to release all of the flavour from the ham. It's important not to overcook it, as this could toughen the ham.

Next, add the peas to the pan. If you're using fresh peas, they may need a little more cooking (about 5-7 minutes), while frozen peas will cook in about 3-4 minutes. Stir well to infuse the peas with the flavours of the ham, onion and garlic.

If you want a juicier touch to your recipe, you can add a little vegetable stock (about 100 ml). This will give it an extra touch of flavour and help the peas cook more gently. Let the stock evaporate almost completely while the peas finish cooking.

Once the peas are tender and all the liquid has evaporated, remove the pan from the heat. Serve the peas and ham piping hot and, if you wish, you can sprinkle on some chopped fresh parsley for a touch of colour.

Tips for a perfect dish

  • Choose good ingredients: The quality of the ham and peas is key. If you can, use quality serrano ham and fresh peas, although frozen ones also work well.
  • Don't overcook the ham: To prevent the ham from getting too tough, make sure you add it after the onion and garlic are well sautéed, and cook it for just a few minutes.
  • Balance the flavors: Ham is quite salty, so add salt sparingly and adjust at the end as needed, but don't add a lot at the beginning if you don't want to have to drink water with every spoonful.

Enjoy your delicious, healthy dish with all the usual flavor but prepared in no time!

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