Description
Savory garlic mushroom pasta brings earthy umami flavors from Mediterranean kitchens to your dinner table. Creamy, herbed sauce coats tender noodles with rich, comforting notes you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 300 grams (10.5 ounces) pasta (spaghetti, fettuccine, or your choice)
- 200 grams (7 ounces) mushrooms (button or cremini), sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
Cooking Fats and Seasonings:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Garnish and Optional Ingredients:
- 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes (optional)
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare a pot of salted water and cook pasta until perfectly tender, maintaining a slight bite. Set aside 1/2 cup of starchy cooking liquid before draining.
- Create a flavor base in a large skillet by gently warming olive oil and butter over medium heat until the butter melts and becomes slightly foamy.
- Introduce minced garlic to the skillet, allowing it to release its aromatic essence for approximately 60 seconds without browning.
- Incorporate sliced mushrooms into the skillet, spreading them evenly. Allow them to caramelize and develop a rich golden color for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Lower the cooking temperature and pour in heavy cream, creating a luxurious sauce. Let the mixture simmer gently for 2-3 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Enhance the sauce by stirring in Parmesan cheese, freshly cracked black pepper, salt, and a pinch of red chili flakes. Continue stirring until the sauce transforms into a silky, slightly thickened consistency.
- Integrate the cooked pasta into the skillet, carefully coating each strand with the creamy mushroom sauce. If the mixture seems too thick, gradually add reserved pasta water to achieve a smooth, glossy texture.
- Transfer to serving plates immediately, finishing with a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley and an optional dusting of additional Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Enhance pasta texture by cooking just until al dente to maintain a slight bite and prevent mushiness.
- Use a mix of mushroom varieties like shiitake, cremini, and oyster for deeper, more complex flavor profiles.
- Reduce dairy for lighter version by substituting heavy cream with Greek yogurt or coconut milk for a healthier alternative.
- Toast garlic briefly to prevent burning and release a nutty, mellow flavor without bitterness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 870 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 64 g
- Saturated Fat: 26 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 34 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 65 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg