Dr Mobeus
Mushroom and Garlic Pasta
Mushrooms are one of the best value ingredients for adding proper flavour to cheap meals. A 250g pack of basic mushrooms costs around 90p in most UK supermarkets and they have a meaty, savoury quality that punches way above their price. This pasta takes 15 minutes and costs 50p per portion. The trick is letting the mushrooms get properly golden before you add anything else – that is where the flavour comes from. Do not crowd the pan and do not stir them constantly.
Mushroom and Garlic Pasta
Ingredients
Method
- Cook the pasta in plenty of salted boiling water according to the packet instructions. Before draining, save a mugful of the pasta cooking water.
- While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil and half the butter in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook for 5-6 minutes without stirring too much - let them get golden.
- Add the sliced garlic and thyme. Cook for 2 minutes until the garlic is golden and fragrant.
- Season well with salt and plenty of black pepper.
- Add the drained pasta to the pan with the remaining butter and a splash of the reserved pasta water. Toss everything together over the heat for 1-2 minutes until the pasta is coated in a silky sauce.
- Serve topped with parmesan and chopped parsley.
Tips and Variations
Do not wash mushrooms – wipe them with a damp cloth or they absorb water and will not brown. Any mushrooms work but chestnut mushrooms have more flavour. A squeeze of lemon juice at the end brightens everything up. No parmesan? A strong cheddar grated over the top is surprisingly good.
