Even though mushrooms are generally equated with the cool months of autumn, there are plenty of wild mushrooms that hit their seasonal peaks at other times of the year. Plus, modern cultivation methods have made a variety of fresh 'shrooms available year-round, which is great news for those of us who love cooking and eating them all the time.
For this rich and hearty pasta ai funghi, we brown a mix of fresh mushrooms in a hot skillet and then cook them down into an earthy sauce with aromatics, white wine, and gelatin-enriched chicken stock. Many mushroom pasta and risotto recipes call for expensive dried porcini mushrooms—and there's no arguing that they pack a ton of savory flavor in a small package—but you can make delicious versions of both dishes without them. Here, we use a (very non-traditional) splash of fish sauce to give the mushrooms a savory boost. Finishing the sauce with butter and Parmesan cheese gives it a creamy richness, and a handful of chopped fresh parsley leaves offer a pop of brightness.
You can decide whether to pair the sauce with dried pasta or delicate, fresh egg-dough noodles. Either way, this comforting cool-weather dish is perfect for a cozy evening at home any time of the year.
Pasta ai Funghi (Creamy Pasta With Mushrooms)
Ingredients
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1 cup (240ml) homemade or store-bought low-sodium chicken stock (see note)
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1 1/2 teaspoons (4g) powdered gelatin, such as Knox
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2 tablespoons (30ml) extra-virgin olive oil
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1 1/2 pounds (675g) mixed mushrooms (such as shiitake, oyster, maitake, beech, cremini, and chanterelles), cleaned, trimmed, and thinly sliced or torn by hand (see note)
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Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
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3 medium shallots, finely minced (about 3/4 cup; 120g)
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2 medium (10g) garlic cloves, minced
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2 tablespoons (4g) chopped fresh thyme leaves
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1/2 cup (120ml) dry white wine or 1/4 cup (60ml) dry sherry
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1 teaspoon (5ml) fish sauce (optional)
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1 pound (450g) short dried pasta (such as casarecce or gemelli) or long fresh egg-dough pasta (such as tagliatelle or fettuccine)
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6 tablespoons unsalted butter (3 ounces; 85g)
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3 ounces grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (1 cup; 85g)
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1/4 cup (10g) chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
Directions
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Pour stock into a small bowl or liquid measuring cup and evenly sprinkle gelatin over surface of stock. Set aside.
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In a large 12-inch cast iron or stainless steel skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add mushrooms, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, until moisture has evaporated and mushrooms are deeply browned, 12 to 15 minutes.
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Add shallots, garlic, and thyme and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant and shallots are softened, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add wine or sherry, and cook, swirling pan and scraping up any stuck-on bits with a wooden spoon, until wine is reduced by half, about 30 seconds.
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Add chicken stock mixture, season lightly with salt, and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, add fish sauce (if using), and cook, stirring occasionally, until mushroom mixture is thickened to a saucy consistency, about 5 minutes. Turn off heat.
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Meanwhile, in a pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta. If using dry pasta, cook until just shy of al dente (1 to 2 minutes less than the package directs). If using fresh pasta, cook until noodles are barely cooked through. Using either a spider skimmer (for short pasta) or tongs (for long fresh pasta), transfer pasta to pan with mushrooms along with 3/4 cup (180ml) pasta cooking water. Alternatively, drain pasta using a colander or fine-mesh strainer, making sure to reserve at least 2 cups (475ml) pasta cooking water.
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Heat sauce and pasta over high and cook, stirring and tossing rapidly, until pasta is al dente (fresh pasta will never be truly al dente) and sauce is thickened and coats noodles, 1 to 2 minutes, adding more pasta cooking water in 1/4 cup (60ml) increments as needed. At this point, the sauce should coat the pasta but still be loose enough to pool around the edges of the pan. Add butter, and stir and toss rapidly to melt and emulsify into the sauce. Remove from heat, add 3/4 of grated cheese and all of the parsley, and stir rapidly to incorporate. Season with salt to taste. Serve immediately, passing remaining grated cheese at the table.
Special Equipment
Large cast iron or stainless steel skillet, spider skimmer
Notes
Remove the stems of hard-stemmed mushrooms, like shiitakes, before using; tender-stemmed mushrooms, like oyster, can be used with the stem on. Firmer mushrooms like shiitakes are best sliced, whereas more tender mushrooms can be easily torn into bite-size pieces by hand.
Make-Ahead and Storage
This pasta is at its best when enjoyed immediately, especially when made with fresh pasta. If using dried pasta, it does keep well for leftovers, however, and can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
