The BEST Creamy Mushroom Pasta

The BEST creamy mushroom pasta! Made with a secret ingredient, this pasta is packed with savory umami flavor and ready in just 20 minutes! Save this for weeknight dinners. 

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I’m so excited to share this pasta with you. It’s so simple, packed with savory umami flavor, fresh herbs and thick bucatini noodles. In other words, I don’t need to go on and on with how much you are going to love this, just make it. Then, come back so we can profess our love of pasta together.

I’m a pretty good vegetarian: I love all the must-have items for mimicking a rich and meaty texture. Tofu and tempeh get equal love in my book, along with eggplant, lentils and of course- mushrooms. Sautéing these beautiful babies in a little bit of garlic and olive oil then tossing them with hot pasta is total perfection. I have to actively try and not to eat all of the mushrooms in the pan as they are cooking.

As Julia Child once famously said, don’t crowd the mushrooms. It’s an important tip and one that I often repeat in my head when I’m cooking mushrooms. The key to getting that crispy outside is heating the olive oil, adding the mushrooms in a single layer and then letting them sit. A few minutes untouched will created the most beautiful crust. Flip and repeat.

 

 

The Best Creamy Mushroom Pasta

The other trick to this mushroom pasta is cooking the pasta in rich mushroom broth. Honestly, you almost don’t even need anything else. The pasta is completely seasoned by the mushroom broth, without having to add any extra salt or seasonings. So, enjoy it like is (especially with a little bit of melted goat cheese or parm) or make it the way I do here, with crispy sautéed mushrooms and lots of parsley. For the best tasting pasta, I used Organic Mushroom Broth from Pacific Foods. Savory mushrooms, garlic and sea salt combine to make the most incredibly flavored broth. It’s my secret weapon in this pasta and mushroom risotto.

While it may be sacrilegious to cook your pasta in just 4 cups of cooking water, it does work. Less liquid also means your pasta cooking time is cut in half; no more waiting 15 minutes for a large pot of water to come to a boil. In fact, you don’t even have to bring the broth to a boil if you’re in a rush, as shown in this Food Network video.

You can use a large skillet or pot to cook the pasta in, but make sure you stir the pasta often once it’s in the pan. Since you aren’t using a lot of water for the pasta to swim in, you need to make sure to stir often so the strands don’t stick to one another.

If 2015 was the year of bone broth, 2016 should be the year of mushroom broth. A nutrient-rich, vegetarian alternative to the Paleo trend that’s about to have a major moment.  Of course, mushroom broth is nothing new, but I’m glad to see it’s getting the recognition it deserves. It’s an inexpensive, plant-based way to add extra earthiness and depth to any dish.

Mushroom lovers, stand up! This weeknight pasta dish is for you.

If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, and tag your Instagram photos with #delishknowledge . I absolutely love seeing your creations. Happy cooking! 

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This post was sponsored by Pacific Foods. As always, words and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that I love and that make DK possible.