Description
This Creamy Oyster Mushroom Pasta is a delightful and comforting dish featuring tender pappardelle pasta tossed in a luscious sauce of sautéed oyster mushrooms, garlic, and heavy cream, enhanced with fresh parsley and a sprinkle of parmesan or mozzarella cheese. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s a perfect vegetarian meal that balances rich flavors with simple ingredients.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 225 g pappardelle pasta
Mushroom Sauce
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 450 g oyster mushrooms, cut into bite-size pieces
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- ¼ cup cheese (parmesan or mozzarella), grated
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pappardelle pasta for about 10 minutes or until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
- Prepare the Mushrooms: Melt 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter in a pan over medium heat. Add the oyster mushrooms in a single layer and fry until both sides are golden brown. Transfer the cooked mushrooms to a plate. Repeat this process in batches, melting butter before each batch to ensure all mushrooms are evenly golden.
- Combine Mushrooms: Return all the fried mushrooms back into the pan once all batches are cooked.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add the chopped garlic, salt, and black pepper to the pan with mushrooms. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the garlic is fragrant.
- Add Cream and Herbs: Pour in the heavy cream, the reserved pasta water, and chopped parsley. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer gently for 5 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Toss Pasta in Sauce: Add the drained pasta to the pan with the creamy mushroom sauce. Toss everything together and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes to let the flavors meld. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt if needed. Remove from heat.
- Serve: Plate the creamy oyster mushroom pasta immediately and garnish with grated parmesan or mozzarella cheese on top for extra richness and flavor.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or a plant-based cream alternative.
- You can use other types of pasta like fettuccine or linguine if pappardelle is unavailable.
- Adding a splash of white wine before the cream can deepen the sauce’s flavor.
- Fresh parsley can be substituted with basil or thyme for a different herbaceous note.
- For a vegan version, replace butter with olive oil, heavy cream with coconut cream, and use vegan cheese or nutritional yeast.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
