Fettuccine with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
Any variety of mushroom will work in this creamy vegetarian pasta sauce, but we particularly like a combination of shiitake, oyster and cremini. Adding a few wild varieties, such as chanterelle or lobster mushrooms, will make the sauce extra-special.
Ingredients
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12 ounces whole-wheat fettuccine
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1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
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½ cup chopped shallot
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2 tablespoons chopped garlic
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1 ½ teaspoons chopped fresh thyme or 3/4 teaspoon dried
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¾ teaspoon salt
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½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
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1 ½ pounds mixed mushrooms, sliced
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2 tablespoons brandy or dry sherry
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3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
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1 cup vegetable broth or no-chicken broth
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⅓ cup light cream
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½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
Description
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Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta until just tender, 8 to 10 minutes or according to package instructions. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid, and return the pasta to the pot.
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Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallot, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper and cook, stirring, until the shallot is light brown, 1 to 3 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid from the mushrooms has evaporated, 7 to 10 minutes.
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Stir in brandy (or sherry) and cook until the liquid has evaporated, about 1 minute. Sprinkle flour over the mushroom mixture and stir to coat. Pour in broth and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Simmer, stirring, until thickened, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat. Stir in cream and 1/4 cup Parmesan.
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Stir the mushroom sauce into the drained pasta. If the sauce seems too thick, stir in some of the reserved pasta-cooking liquid to thin to desired consistency. Serve sprinkled with the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan.