Pasta With Figs and Prosciutto Recipe

By
Deborah Mele
Deborah Mele
Deborah Mele is a self-taught cook whose passion for Italian cuisine began almost 40 years ago when she married into a large Italian family overflowing with talented cooks. After moving to Italy, Deborah created her blog Italian Food Forever to share her passion for Italian food.
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Updated May. 15, 2019
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Deborah Mele

Note: I prefer a long stranded, dried pasta such as spaghetti, stringozzi, or ciriole (traditional Umbrian pasta varieties) for this dish. You can also use a short pasta such as fusilli or penne if you prefer.

To toast the pine nuts, you can either use the oven or skillet method. For the oven, spread the nuts on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F, stirring occasionally, until golden-brown, 5 to 10 minutes. For the skillet, cook the nuts in a dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until lightly golden brown, about 3 minutes.

Since there is no liquid other than olive oil in this pasta dish, it is helpful to reserve a small cup of the pasta water before you drain the pasta. When you mix the ingredients together you can use the pasta water to loosen the "sauce" and ensure it is not dry and instead lightly coats the pasta.

Recipe Facts

Active: 25 mins
Total: 25 mins
Serves: 4 to 6 servings

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Ingredients

  • 8 thin slices prosciutto, about 6 ounces, divided

  • 4 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1/2 cup finely chopped onion (about 1/2 medium onion)

  • 2 garlic cloves, minced (about 2 teaspoons)

  • 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/2 to 1 teaspoon red chile flakes

  • 8 to 10 medium fresh, ripe figs, about 2 1/2 cups chopped

  • 1 pound pasta of choice (see note)

  • 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves

  • 1/3 cup lightly toasted pine nuts (see note)

  • Grated Pecorino Romano cheese

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Place two slices of prosciutto on a baking sheet. Bake the prosciutto until crispy, about 7 minutes then cool to room temperature. Once cool, crumble the prosciutto into pieces and set aside to garnish the completed pasta dish. Roll the other 6 slices of prosciutto up lengthwise, and then thinly slice into strips and set aside until needed for the sauce.

  2. Place a large pot of lightly salted water on to boil. While the pasta water is coming to a boil, heat the oil in a small pot over medium heat until lightly smoking, then cook the onion, stirring, until it is soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, sliced prosciutto, pepper, and chili flakes and cook, stirring often for about 4 minutes. Add the figs, stir gently to mix and lower the heat to medium-low, then continue to cook until the figs begin to break down, about 4 minutes. Keep warm.

  3. Cook the pasta until it is "al dente" following the package instructions, then drain, reserving a small cup of the pasta water. Return the pasta to the pot and empty the fig and prosciutto mixture on top. Place the pot over medium high heat, and stirring constantly, add as much pasta water as is needed to lightly coat the pasta strands, usually about 1/4 to 1/3 of a cup. Once the pasta is piping hot and well mixed, add the parsley and toss.

  4. Serve the pasta in individual bowls, topped with a sprinkling of the toasted pine nuts, and crispy prosciutto crumbles. Pass grated cheese at the table.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
521 Calories
19g Fat
67g Carbs
21g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 521
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g 24%
Saturated Fat 3g 17%
Cholesterol 25mg 8%
Sodium 838mg 36%
Total Carbohydrate 67g 24%
Dietary Fiber 4g 15%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 21g
Vitamin C 7mg 33%
Calcium 96mg 7%
Iron 4mg 21%
Potassium 500mg 11%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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