Kiwi carbonara

Faced with a chunk of ham that needed using, I went digging through my Edmonds book for a recipe. There aren't many ham recipes, really: I only had 2 to choose from. In the end I decided on spaghetti carbonara (p102) as quicker and easier than my other option, pizza.

It was a remarkably quick to throw together - just fry up some onion with chunks of ham (the recipe actually calls for chopped ham steaks), and throw in mushrooms. While that's cooking, mix an egg yolk into some sour cream. Add this to the pan, heat slightly, and the sauce is ready. Just add pasta and dinner's done.

Strictly speaking, it's not a proper carbonara - sour cream and ham steaks? Not exactly the traditional Italian version! The alternate name given for this recipe is ham and mushroom sauce: a more accurate description, really.

This kiwified version of spaghetti carbonara is cheaper and easier to make than an authentic Italian one. And it tastes pretty good, really: a creamy sauce, with big chunks of ham and mushroom - what's not to like? So if you're a fan of creamy pastas, this is a good one to keep in mind, especially if you need a meal in a hurry.