Dinner Tonight: Tube-Shaped Pasta with Wild Mushrooms Recipe

By
Nick Kindelsperger
Nick Kindelsperger is a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Nick Kindelsperger
Nick Kindelsperger is a food critic at the Chicago Tribune.  His food writing appears in The Washington Post, Newsweek, Epicurious, Baltimore Sun, Serious Eats, Grub Street, New York Magazine, and Tasting Table, among others.
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Updated August 09, 2018

I recently stumbled upon Saveur’s 10 favorite pastas and figured I had it made. I love pasta. Saveur loves pasta. We’d meet somewhere and have one hell of a dinner. And this is the one I fell for. I was immediately drawn to this dish because of how robust and filling it all sounded, even though there wasn’t an ounce of meat present. It exceeded my expectations. I was amazed at the full flavor and enormous body of this dish. I suppose the wonderful mushrooms had something to do with it, but I’m going to thank all that salt I dumped into the pasta water before the noodles ever went in. This dish didn’t need an ounce of seasoning beyond the obligatory sprinkling of Parmesan. It tasted as if some reduced stock had been thrown in.

The most expensive item in the meal—the sherry—is also the one that can most easily be substituted. A dry white wine would work perfectly fine. But it would slightly change the nature and aroma of the dish. And splurging for that Spanish beverage wouldn't be a complete waste. A good bottle of sherry is also worth drinking, and paired so well that I'm really glad I bit the bullet and bought the bottle.

Recipe Details

Dinner Tonight: Tube-Shaped Pasta with Wild Mushrooms Recipe

Cook 30 mins
Total 30 mins

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 1 pound of assorted mushrooms (chanterelles, porcini, etc.), cut into large pieces
  • 2 tablespoons fino sherry
  • 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
  • 1/2 pound tube-shaped pasta (such as rigatoncini or penne)
  • 1 1/2 ounces Parmigiano-reggiano, freshly grated
  • Salt and pepper

Directions

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Toss in about 3 tablespoons of salt.

  2. Meanwhile, pour 1 tablespoon of the oil into a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and onions. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the onions are translucent. Remove the vegetables from the skillet and set aside.

  3. Pour another tablespoon of olive oil to the now empty skillet, turn the heat to high, and then add the mushrooms. Season with salt. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes.

  4. Pour the sherry in to deglaze the skillet. Scrap the bottom with a wooden spoon, dislodging any browned bits. Cook for 2 minutes. Toss in the parsley, reduce the heat to medium-low.

  5. While the mushrooms are cooking, start the pasta. Cook according to package instructions, subtracting about a minute off the finished time. When ready, scoop out about a quarter cup of the pasta water and set aside. Drain the pasta and then immediately toss with the mushroom sauce. Add the water if it needs to be more substantial. Sprinkle with Parmesan.

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