Creamy Mushroom Pasta

Creamy Mushroom Pasta

from havocinthekitchen.com
40 min
1 servings

This Creamy Mushroom Pasta with shallot, thyme, garlic is a simple yet flavourful and tasty meal that will be ready in about 30 minutes from start to finish. It is creamy and rich but not overly heavy because instead of cream the sauce calls for cream cheese and sour cream.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. (450 gr.) button mushrooms, preferably brown - rinsed/washed, dried, and sliced
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 tbsp. butter (substitute 1 tbsp. olive oil, if desired)
  • 1 large shallot, sliced
  • 2-4 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 tbsp. fresh thyme
  • 5-6 tbsp. (75-85 gr.) cream cheese
  • 1-2 tbsp. (15-30 gr.) sour cream, optional
  • 1/2 to 2/3 tsp. salt + more for salting water
  • black pepper, to taste
  • 1 lb. (450 gr.) pasta of your choice

Directions

  1. 1

    Place a large preferably heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high to high heat. Do not add any fat yet. Place the mushrooms and cook for about 7-10 minutes until they have released most of the liquid and then it has mostly evaporated. During this step, toss them occasionally with a spatula. The step may take a few minutes longer depending on how well you have washed the mushrooms.

  2. 2

    Once the water has evaporated and the mushrooms start turning brown and aromatic, reduce the heat to high-low to low-medium. Add the butter and olive oil and season with a little of salt and pepper. Cook for about 7-10 minutes until nicely browned.

  3. 3

    Add the shallot, garlic, and thyme and cook for just 2-3 minutes until softened and fragrant.

  4. 4

    In a meantime, cook the pasta in a large pot of well-salted boiling water, according to the package instructions, until al dente. Drain reserving about 1 cup of the pasta water.

  5. 5

    Add about 1/2 to 2/3 cup of the hot pasta water to the pan with mushrooms (step 3). Stir in the cream cheese and if using, sour cream. Let it simmer for a minute or so, until the cream cheese has melted and incorporated.

  6. 6

    Transfer the al dente pasta, gently stir, and let it simmer for about 2 minutes to finish cooking the pasta and mingle the flavours. Try and season with some salt and pepper, if necessary. If the sauce gets too thick, add some of the reserved pasta water more. Sprinkle with more fresh thyme if desired; some shredded cheese like parmesan will also be a nice addition. Enjoy immediately!