Seven Ps Pasta Recipe from Tuscany (Penne alle Sette P)

Seven Ps pasta also called penne alle sette P is a delicious Tuscan pasta recipe made with seven ingredients all beginning with the letter P (in Italian). The delicious cream and tomato sauce includes leeks, pancetta and peas. This recipe is really easy to prepare and perfect for weeknights.

Although this is quite a hearty recipe, seven Ps pasta is easy to make because most the ingredients are staples or widely available, meal prep is minimal and it takes just 30 minutes to have it on the table. Definitely a great recipe to feed a hungry family quickly.

Why is this recipe called seven Ps pasta?

Some Italians also call this penne pasta recipe ‘pasta ai sette peccati’, meaning seven sins pasta! So, what are the 7 sins of this delicious dish? They're nothing more than the 7 ingredients which all begin with P in Italian, because every ingredient must begin with this letter. 

Traditionally, the seven Ps (apart from the penne pasta) refer to cream (panna in Italian) which is essential for the perfect creamy consistency, peas (piselli in Italian) pancetta, tomato (pomodori), chili pepper (peperoncino), and leeks (porre). 

Parsley and Parmigiano can be added when serving. They can also replace one of the other ingredients if you don’t want to include it but want to keep to the theme of seven Ps! For example, to make this recipe vegetarian use red bell pepper (peperone in Italian) instead of pancetta and use a vegetarian parmesan cheese or leave the cheese out.

History and origins of this recipe.

Although there’s no specific info available about the origin of this seven Ps pasta recipe, the combination of tomatoes and cream make it probable that this is a retro dish from the 70s and 80s, when pasta sauces with cream and tomatoes were in vogue in Italy. This recipe has had a resurgence in popularity recently. 

Other popular tomato and cream pasta recipes from the same period include penne alla vodka and penne al baffo.  The latter is made with cooked ham, making it a great recipe to use leftover holiday ham in. The former as the name suggests has a vodka based sauce, plus pancetta like this penne alle sette P.  

Ingredients and substitutions for Seven Ps pasta.

Main ingredients

Pasta: Penne is the traditional pasta of choice for this recipe. I used large, grooved penne known as pennoni giganti. You can use normal penne or other short pasta tubes.

Pancetta: the type of pancetta used here in Italy is called ‘tesa’. This is a slab of unsmoked pancetta that you need to cut into cubes or lardons. Of course, you can use ready cubed pancetta instead. Smoked pancetta is fine or if pancetta isn’t available use a fatty bacon or even cooked ham (also begins with P, prosciutto cotto).

Leeks: (porri in Italian). Leeks are used in this dish because the Italian name for them starts with a P. However, they do have a sweeter, softer flavor than onions. I would use shallots if you don’t have leeks.

Cream: (panna). The recipe I followed called for a long life heavy cream that Italian’s call ‘panna da cucina’. Fresh double or single cream work well too. Single cream is more liquid so you may need to simmer the sauce for longer to thicken it.

Peas: (piselli). Not all seven Ps pasta recipes include peas, instead they use red bell pepper or don’t include a 3^rd veg apart from the tomatoes and leeks. I like peas in creamy pasta sauces. For example, tortellini with ham and peas is such a creamy pasta classic! I used frozen peas. If you want to use fresh peas, they will require longer cooking.

Tomatoes: (pomodori) Most versions of this dish call for canned peeled tomatoes. I used canned peeled cherry tomatoes. You can also use canned chopped tomatoes or peel fresh tomatoes yourself.

Red chili pepper: (peperoncino). This is another ingredient that doesn’t appear in all versions of penne alle sette P. If you don’t want to add spice, leave the chili out. If you do, you can use dried red pepper flakes or fresh red chili. How much you use depends on personal taste. Fresh peperoncino needs to be chopped and sautéed with the leeks.

Optional ingredients.

Parsley and Parmigiano Reggiano These two ingredients are optional and can be used to replace one of the above to keep to the seven P theme. Alternatively add when serving as I did.

Step be step instructions and photos.

1) Gather your ingredients. Then wash, peel and slice the leeks and cut the pancetta into cubes if needed. If using a fresh red chili cut the amount you need into small pieces.

2) Fry the pancetta with just a little olive oil. Once it starts to crisp, add the leeks and fresh chili (if using). Cook until the leeks soften. 

3) Add dried chili flakes (if using).

4) Add the canned tomatoes. Mix everything together and simmer for ten minutes.

5) Add the peas and salt and black pepper to taste. Mix and cook for another ten minutes.

6) Finally add the cream. Stir it into the sauce and simmer on a low heat for 5 minutes.

7) Cook the penne pasta al dente in boiling salted water. Drain when ready after saving some of the pasta cooking water and add the pasta to the creamy sauce. Mix everything together well. If the sauce seems dry add a dash of pasta water.

7) Serve your seven Ps pasta with chopped parsley and grated Parmigiano cheese. 

What to do with leftovers.

Leftover seven Ps pasta can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up 2-3 days. Reheat in the microwave or bake in the oven with more grated cheese on top. I don’t recommend freezing leftovers.

FAQs.

Let me know what you think.

This seven Ps pasta is really one of the quickest pasta dishes I know. It's made with simple ingredients and makes a perfect weeknight dinner. I'm sure if you try it, you'll think the same. And if you do make it, please let me know what you think.

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Looking forward to hearing from you!

Buon appetito!

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