Description
A creamy and flavorful mushroom pasta recipe featuring sautéed mushrooms in butter and olive oil, combined with al dente pasta and finished with parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. This dish is quick to prepare and perfect for a comforting weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pastas
- 200g (7 oz) short pasta like orecchiette, penne, or macaroni
- 160g (6 oz) long pasta such as spaghetti or fettucine
Mushrooms and Sauce
- 400g (14 oz) mushrooms, sliced 1/2 cm (1/5″) thick
- 50g (3 tbsp) unsalted butter, divided
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Finishing
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese (or 1/4 cup store-bought grated parmesan)
- Fresh parsley, finely chopped
- Additional parmesan cheese for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta to the boiling water as you begin cooking the mushrooms. Cook the pasta according to package instructions minus one minute to keep it slightly firm.
- Reserve Pasta Water and Drain: Before draining, reserve one mugful of pasta cooking liquid to use later for the sauce. Then drain the pasta thoroughly.
- Cook Mushrooms: In a large skillet, melt half of the butter together with the olive oil over medium heat. Add the sliced mushrooms and cook until their moisture is released and evaporated, and they start to turn golden around the edges, about 5 minutes. Halfway through, season with salt and pepper.
- Add Garlic and Butter: Stir in the minced garlic and the remaining butter. Continue cooking for 2 minutes until the mushrooms and garlic achieve a golden color and fragrant aroma.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained pasta to the mushroom mixture along with about 3/4 cup of the reserved pasta water and the freshly grated parmesan cheese. Toss gently until the liquid reduces and thickens into a creamy glaze coating the pasta evenly. If needed, add more pasta water to maintain the sauce consistency.
- Adjust Seasoning and Serve: Taste the dish and add more salt and pepper if necessary. Remove from heat and serve immediately, garnished generously with fresh parsley and additional parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Use a mixture of short and long pasta or choose your favorite shape for varied texture.
- Fresh mushrooms work best; you can use cremini, button, or a mix for depth of flavor.
- Reserve pasta water is essential for creating a silky sauce that clings well to the pasta.
- Adjust seasoning at the end to tailor the dish to your taste preference.
- This recipe is best served immediately to enjoy the creamy texture and fresh flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: mushroom pasta, vegetarian pasta recipe, creamy mushroom pasta, easy dinner recipe, Italian pasta dish
