RECIPE FROM SPAIN:

Serrano Ham and Peas

As soon as the first peas come into season, this is the very first dish we make. The sweet juicy fresh young peas combined with the strong flavoured Serrano ham, is simply delicious. This is ideal for lunch but served up in smaller portions, is also a popular tapas dish.

You will need:

200g Serrano ham, cut into bite sized cubes
1 medium onion
3 cloves garlic
300g fresh peas (fresh frozen are also good here)
2 tablespoons olive oil
Ground black pepper

Method

• Peel the onion and garlic, chop the onion roughly and finely slice the garlic.

• Heat the olive oil in a frying pan or large cazuela and add the onion and garlic. Cook for a few minutes until they begin to soften.

• Add the Serrano ham to the pan and cook for a couple of minutes, then add the peas a little water and a generous amount of black pepper.

• Reduce the heat to its lowest, cover and cook for 15 - 20 minutes, stirring from time to time.