Thursday 9 June 2016

CREAMY "ALL ABOUT THE MUSHROOMS" PASTA



Sometimes you don't have all the time in the world cook a meal in the evening. As much as I like spending time in the kitchen, it's not always possible when life starts to get in the way. This doesn't mean you can't have fantastic food though and this is where this creamy mushroom pasta comes in. Showcasing a gorgeous porcini and chestnut mushrooms creme fraiche sauce, this fusilli dish is simply all about the flavor of the mushrooms with a touch of fresh parsley and topped with crispy onion to add a bit of pizazz. All yours in just under 30 minutes!

Well I say that but that's only true if you remember to do one thing; soak your porcini mushrooms the night before. Porcini are often packaged dry and by soaking them over night they will not only be super soft when it comes to making the pasta dish, but you will also have a delicious porcini mushroom stock which forms the base of your sauce. Porcini mushrooms can be found in lots of large supermarkets now so you should be able to find them. If you cant, well I wouldn't really attempt to make this recipe. The key to the flavor of the sauce is that porcini stock and without it you are just going to end up with a bland creamy sauce. If you want some another idea for a mushroom-tastic dinners that don't use porcini's then try my super slimmers veggie stroganoff for a low cal teatime treat instead!

What you can change is the pasta you use. I've used tricolor fusilli as it looks pretty and I really love it but you could use another type of pasta such as penne if you wish. You also can use another herb on top if you think it will work and you don't have or like parsley. I think a few chopped chives would work great.

Dried crispy onions can be found in large supermarkets and whole food shops. They are great little garnish for dishes if you feel like they need a little bit of crunch to them. If you can't find them don't panic as the pasta is still yummy without them, it's just the onions do add a little oomph to the finished plate! If you ever spot them in your local store, grab a packet and you will not be disappointed!

Lets get to it! The recipe below will make enough pasta for two. Just remember to get those porcini soaking for as long as possible to really make this pasta sing! Once you have done that, see if you can get this dish on the table in less than 30 minutes. Go on, I challenge you!


Creamy Mushroom Pasta


40g Dried Porcini Mushrooms
 200g Fusilli 
1 Peeled And Diced Onion
2 Grated Garlic Cloves
200g Chestnut Mushrooms
250ml Creme Fraiche 
Salt And Pepper To Season
Handfull Chopped Parsley Leaves
2 Tbsp Crispy Onions

  1. Begin by washing thoroughly and then soaking the dried porcini in enough water to cover them plus about 50ml more until they are at least soft but preferably overnight if you can.
  2. When the mushrooms are ready, cook the fusilli as per packet instructions, drain and leave to one side.
  3. Place a lightly oiled pan on a medium heat and chuck in the onions and fry until they begin to soften. Add in the garlic and chestnut mushrooms and fry for 3 minutes until the mushrooms are just beginning to softened.
  4. Add in the porcini with the soaking liquid along with the creme fraiche and stir until the color of the sauce is equal throughout. Season liberally with salt and pepper and then bring the mixture to a boil before reducing immediately to a simmer for 3 minutes.
  5. Throw in the pasta and cook for a further 2 minutes, stirring as you go until the pasta is coated all over with the sauce. 
  6. Remove the pan from the heat and serve, garnishing with the chopped parsley and crispy onions.
Remember; as long as you remember to soak the porcini overnight or earlier in the day, you can have this deliciously simple meal on your plate in just under 30 minutes, ideal if you don't want to be spending all day in the kitchen or you need to whip up something quick and tasty on the fly. The strong mushroom flavor of the porcini and chestnut mushrooms works so well with the gentle creaminess of the creme fraiche making the most gorgeous sauce for all that pasta. The fresh parsley gives a fresh burst of flavor to the plate whilst the crispy onions add a little bit of texture to keep things interesting, but really it is all about those mushrooms. Magic!

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