Pasta like you’ve never tasted before!
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There is no shortage of ways to make a dish of pasta a little more interesting and flavorful. But one that sometimes gets overlooked is adding mushrooms to the mix. Obviously, the taste and texture of mushrooms aren’t for everyone. But anyone who enjoys pasta should be willing to give “pasta ai funghi,” as it’s called in Italy, a chance. Meanwhile, those who are already fans of fungus will never want to eat pasta any other way once they try this recipe.
Of course, those who already love mushrooms need no convincing. But it’s important to keep in mind that this recipe is about more than just the earthy and umami taste of mushrooms. This recipe is also heavy on garlic and includes fresh cracked pepper, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese on top of fettuccine. It’s the combination of pasta, mushroom, and sauce that makes this dish stand out from the average bowl of pasta.
That being said, there are plenty of other ways to prepare pasta if you’d like to stay clear of mushrooms. To keep things simple, we might recommend instant pot pasta primavera. If you don’t mind something a little less simple, give cauliflower alfredo baked penne carbonara a try. If all you need is a great sauce, let us introduce you to creamy pumpkin pasta sauce. Of course, if the mushroom part of this recipe is what attracted you in the first place, keep this mushroom frittata recipe in mind for another day.
Is Mushroom Pasta Healthy?
The inclusion of mushrooms in this recipe gives it health benefits that you won’t find in an ordinary dish of pasta. Mushrooms are typically low in calories while also being a good source of antioxidants and fiber. That being said, the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese in the recipe do add a substantial amount of fat and calories to the dish. If this is a concern, consider finding a replacement or cutting down on the amount of cream and cheese used.
Pick and Choose
With mushroom pasta, there are choices to make when it comes to both the type of mushroom and type of pasta. In our recipe, we suggest baby bella mushrooms. But that type of mushroom isn’t your only option. You can easily substitute with shiitake or maitake mushrooms. The same goes with the type of pasta. While we recommend fettuccine for this recipe, feel free to replace it with another type of pasta if you prefer. You should also feel free to add spinach or another vegetable to the recipe to enhance the flavor profile even more.
INGREDIENTS
- 4 cloves garlic
- 8 ounces baby bella mushrooms
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 8 ounces fettuccine
- 2.5 cups vegetable broth
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
INSTRUCTIONS
Prep
Mince garlic, slice mushrooms, and sauté with butter.
Simmer
Cook pasta with broth until tender.
Creamy
Add cream and Parmesan, then serve.
Devour!
FAQs & Tips
If there are leftovers of this recipe, they can be stored in an airtight container and kept in the fridge. However, don’t wait more than a couple of days if heavy cream was used. It’s also possible to make the sauce and chop the mushrooms ahead of time while holding off on cooking the pasta and the mushrooms until you’re ready to eat.
One or two tablespoons of cornstarch can help to thicken the sauce. Just keep in mind that a thicker sauce tends to be higher in fat and calories.
Yes, marsala wine is often considered a secret ingredient when cooking mushrooms and bringing out their full flavor profile.
Serving Suggestions
Nothing goes more naturally with pasta than a nice salad. For instance, a cucumber and tomato salad would be a wonderful side dish for mushroom pasta. You can also try a classic caprese salad recipe. To incorporate a little fruit into the meal, try making a healthy broccoli apple salad with Greek yogurt or shredded cabbage salad with apples. You may also want to have a vegetable or two as a simple side dish. In that case, we might recommend air fryer asparagus or roasted delicata squash.
Ingredients
- 4 cloves garlic
- 8 ounces baby bella mushrooms
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 8 ounces fettuccine
- 2.5 cups vegetable broth
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Mince the garlic and slice the mushrooms.
- In a deep skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add mushrooms, salt, and pepper, and sauté until mushrooms are softened and their moisture has evaporated.
- Place fettuccine and vegetable broth in the skillet, stirring to combine. Cover with a lid and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to medium-low and simmer.
- Simmer the pasta, covered, for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender and saucy.
- Stir in heavy cream, remove from heat. Add Parmesan, and stir until cheese is melted and pasta is well coated. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Info:
Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.
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