Saltimbocca with Baby Pasta Primavera
Ingredients
- Salt and pepper
- 1 cup acini di pepe or orzo pasta
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 carrots, peeled and finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 bunch scallions, white and green parts chopped separately
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
- 1 pork tenderloin, trimmed and cut into twelve 3/4-inch-thick slices
- 12 fresh sage leaves
- 6 slices prosciutto, halved lengthwise
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- 1/3 cup finely chopped flat leaf parsley (a generous handful)
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
Preparation
Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it, add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain through a fine-mesh strainer and return to the pot.
While the pasta is working, in a medium skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add the carrots and sugar; season with salt. Partially cover the pan; cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the scallion whites, season with pepper and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in the scallion greens and peas and cook for 1 minute. Add the vegetable mixture and cheese to the pasta and toss.
On a work surface, pound the pork slices thin; season both sides with salt and pepper. Top each pork slice with a sage leaf and wrap a prosciutto piece around each. In a large skillet, heat the EVOO and the garlic over medium heat. Working in 2 batches, add the pork and cook until brown, 2 minutes on each side, transferring the cooked meat to a platter.
Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter to the skillet; cook until brown, 2 minutes. Stir in the parsley and lemon juice, then pour the pan sauce over the pork. Serve with the pasta.
