Pea And Ham Pasta Sauce - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 tablespoons oil
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 small onion, finely chopped
250 g diced ham
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/2 cup white wine or 1/2 cup chicken stock
1 (440 g) can crushed tomatoes
1 cup frozen peas, defrosted under running hot water
fresh ground black pepper
1/2 cup light cream
2 tablespoons chopped basil
parmesan cheese, shaved or grated to serve

Preparation

Heat the oil in a frypan, and saute the onion and garlic over medium heat until softened, about 5 minutes.
Add the diced ham and saute a further 2 minutes or so.
Add the tomato paste, and cook stirring for 2 minutes, then pour in the wine or stock.
If I'm using wine, I like to reduce it a little.
Now add the crushed tomatoes, peas and freshly ground black pepper and simmer for about 10 minutes.
No longer though or the peas lose their fresh green colour.
Add the cream and reheat gently, then stir through the chopped basil before serving.
Offer Parmesan cheese at the table.