20-Minute Pasta

Directions

1. 1
   Set a large pot of water to boil & salt it.
2. 2
   Turn the oven on to its lowest setting; warm 4 pasta bowls in it.
3. 3
   When the water is boiling, add the pasta.
4. 4
   Meanwhile, put 1 tablespoon of the butter and the ham into a medium-size saute pan over medium-high heat.
5. 5
   Cook, shaking pan occasionally, until the ham colors, about 2 minutes, then divide ham among the pasta bowls.
6. 6
   Add remaining butter to the pan and, when the foam subsides, crack the eggs into the pan.
7. 7
   Cook them sunny side up, until the whites are nearly firm & the yolks very runny.
8. 8
   The butter will begin to color while the eggs are cooking; if it threatens to burn, lower the heat to medium.
9. 9
   When the pasta is tender but not mushy, drain it, reserving a bit of the cooking water.
10. 10
    Put the pasta in bowls.
11. 11
    Use a spatula to transfer a fried egg to each bowl of pasta & pour all the butter from the pan around the eggs onto the pasta.
12. 12
    Slice the eggs on the pasta & toss them with the pasta, adding cheese, and if necessary, a little of the pasta cooking liquid, to make a sauce.
13. 13
    Add salt if necessary, & lots of black pepper & serve.