Mushroom pasta

Google: “There are thousands of types of edible mushroom, some big, some small, some beautiful and some rather less so. From the humble button to rarer, more exotic fungi such as morels and porcini, mushrooms can be enjoyed raw, cooked or dried and bring a depth of flavour and plenty of umami to any dish”.

Mushrooms are so versatile just in Italian pasta or risotto as well as in many other dishes. Mushrooms are necessary when it comes to achieving a warm, savory umami without any meat which is what makes them the secret ingredient in my pasta dinner tonight.

I bought one mixed mushroom and three dried porcinis as it’s on sale. I decided to use the mixed mushroom to go with spiral pasta to finished off the leftover and get some new packet and different variety. My dinner has earthy flavours, creamy and delicious. Let’s cook!!!!

Ingredients

250 g spiral pasta
20 g mixed mushroom
20 g sliced mushroom
4 stalks parsley
3 stalks oregano
2 stalks thyme
1/4 c vegetable stock
1 tbs minced garlic
125 g mixed rocket and spinach
Parmesan Pecorino cheese
oil
salt
black pepper
water
chili flakes (OPT)
sliced olives (OPT)

Method

Soak dried mushroom in hot boiling water for 30 minutes. Meantime, blend all herbs. Transfer to a bowl for later. Minced garlic. When 30 minutes up strain to remove the sediment onto a bowl and reserve mushroom water to cook pasta.

Place pasta in microwave safe bowl, salt, stock, mushroom water and water enough to cook pasta. Cook pasta half-cook about 12 minutes. Drain and reserve pasta water to add to pasta to make it creamy sauce.

In saucepan heat oil on medium heat and add garlic, cooked until brown and fragrant. Add in dried mushroom with half ladle pasta water; cook for about 3-4 minutes until soften slightly then add in sliced mushroom mixed well and cook further for 2 minutes until cooked.

Then add herbs, rocket, spinach, half-cooked pasta and one ladle pasta water. Stir and keep stirring as you add bit by bit pasta water until it release the starch to be creamy and pasta is al dente. Now add in cheese and stir to mix well. Spoon onto bowls and serve with a glass of wine. Enjoy!!!

Note: You can use linguine, pappardelle or spaghetti. I have added sliced olives in mine bowl as my family don’t like olives. You can add olives if you like or chili flakes.

https://helenscchin.com/2021/11/16/mushroom-pasta/

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