Mushroom Ragù Pasta Recipes

MUSHROOM RAGù PASTA

Steps:

• Add the stock, heavy cream, porcini mushroom powder (if using), 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves and 2 teaspoons salt to a large pot. Bring to a boil over high.
• While the liquid comes to a boil, heat the oil over medium-high in a large (12-inch) nonstick skillet. Add the mushrooms, shallots, garlic and 2 teaspoons thyme leaves. Season generously with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until caramelized and tender, about 12 minutes. Add the port, and stir until the alcohol cooks off and the mixture is almost dry, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, set aside and cover to keep warm.
• Add the pasta to the boiling cream mixture, reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring frequently with tongs, until the pasta is al dente and absorbs most of the liquid, and the sauce is silky, 6 to 7 minutes. (Stir constantly during the last couple minutes to ensure the pasta cooks evenly. Add a splash of water if needed to keep the mixture glossy.) Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Transfer the pasta to bowls, top with the mushroom mixture and the remaining 1 teaspoon thyme leaves, and serve immediately.

MUSHROOM RAGU

Steps:

• In a large skillet heat the oil. When almost smoking, add the onions and garlic over medium-low heat until the onions have wilted, about 8 minutes. Add the mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Raise heat to high and saute until mushrooms are tender and all the liquid has evaporated. Remove pan from heat and pour in Marsala. Return pan to stove and allow wine to evaporate, about 3 minutes. Add chicken broth and simmer for 1/2 hour until the sauce has reduced by half. Add heavy cream and mix well. Take the pan off the heat and add the fresh herbs and Parmesan and mix thoroughly.

PASTA WITH CREAMY SPINACH MUSHROOM RAGú

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Heat the olive oil in a large heavy pot over high heat. Cook the mushrooms, undisturbed, until browned underneath, 3 to 4 minutes. Toss and continue to cook, until browned on both sides and tender, 4 to 5 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper and transfer to a medium heatproof bowl.
• Reduce the heat to medium and add the butter, onion, garlic and serrano and cook, stirring often, until the onions are translucent and softened, about 6 minutes. Add the spinach and 1/4 cup water, cover and cook until the spinach is wilted, about 5 minutes. Return the mushrooms to pot.
• Meanwhile, boil the pasta, stirring occasionally, until just under al dente, about 2 minutes less than the package directs.
• Reserve 3/4 cup of the pasta cooking liquid and drain the pasta. Transfer the pasta and reserved cooking liquid to the pot with the spinach and mushrooms and add the crema. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer over medium heat, tossing the pasta constantly, until the pasta has fully cooked through and has absorbed some of the liquid, about 3 minutes. The sauce should be thick and creamy and will continue to thicken as it sits.
• Remove the pot from the heat. Add the 1 cup basil, 1/2 cup Parmesan and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and toss to combine. Taste and season with more salt, if needed.
• Divide the pasta among bowls and top with more Parmesan and basil leaves.

MUSHROOM RAGU

Steps:

• Place porcini mushrooms in a small shallow bowl with just enough hot water to cover. Let stand 30 minutes.
• Place onion in the bowl of a food processor; process until finely chopped. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside. Place carrots and celery in bowl of food processor; process until finely chopped. Transfer to a small bowl (separate from onion) and set aside. Place mixed mushrooms in bowl of food processor; process until finely chopped; set aside.
• Heat butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and 2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; cook, stirring, until onion begins to brown, about 7 minutes. Add carrots and celery; stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture is browned, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Drain porcini mushrooms and finely chop. Add to pot along with chopped mixed mushrooms. Cook stirring occasionally, until liquid is released and mushrooms are browned, about 10 minutes.
• Add tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid is slightly reduced, 6 minutes. Place basil, marjoram, rosemary, and thyme on a piece of cheesecloth, tying with kitchen twine to enclose; add to pot. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium-low; simmer for 1 hour.
• Add 1 cup water and continue cooking for an additional 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions, until al dente. Drain, reserving some of the cooking water, if desired, and transfer to a large bowl. Add mushroom ragu and toss to combine. Stir in cheese and enough of the pasta water to form a sauce. Garnish with additional cheese and parsley.

WILD MUSHROOM RAGù

Steps:

• Soak the porcini in 3 cups hot water until very soft, about 30 minutes.
• Coat a large wide saucepan generously with olive oil and bring to medium-high heat. Add the onion and red pepper and season with salt; cook until the onion is soft and aromatic, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 2 to 3 minutes more.
• Add the fresh mushrooms, season with salt, and sauté until soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the wine and continue cooking until reduced by half, 5 to 6 minutes more.
• Using your hand, scoop the porcini out of the soaking water, being careful not to disturb the water-you want the crud to stay settled. Put the porcini in a food processor, ladle in about 1/2 cup of the soaking liquid, and purée to a very smooth paste.
• Add the porcini paste, 2 cups of the porcini water, and 1 cup of the stock to the pan; toss in the thyme bundle and the bay leaf. Taste and season with salt if needed. Bring the liquid to a boil (BTB) and reduce to a simmer (RTS). Simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, adding more stock if needed; this sauce should be saucy but not soupy. Remove the thyme bundle and bay leaf before serving. Serve tossed with pasta or gnocchi or over polenta.

MUSHROOM RAGù

Steps:

• Heat in a large, heavy skillet: 2 tablespoons olive oil.
• Add and cook over medium heat, until very tender: 1 large yellow onion, peeled and diced fine, 1 large carrot, peeled and diced fine, 2 celery stalks, diced fine, Salt.
• When cooked through, with no crunch but with little or no browning, add: 6 thyme sprigs, leaves picked from the stems, 6 parsley sprigs, leaves only, chopped, 1 bay leaf.
• Cook for 1 minute. Add and cook for 5 minutes: 1/2 cup diced tomatoes.
• Set aside. Carefully clean and slice: 2 pounds mushrooms (choose a mixture of two or three types: chanterelles, black trumpets, hedgehogs, brown or white button mushrooms).
• If the mushrooms are very dirty, it will be necessary to wash them (crunching down on dirt and sand is very unpleasant). The mushrooms may take on some water, but it will be thrown off shortly after they hit the hot pan. As they cook, the mushrooms will give off liquid; let the juices boil away or tip off the juices and set them aside. Continue cooking the mushrooms until lightly browned (you may need to add a little more oil or butter). The reserved juices can be added back to the sauce later in place of some of the water or broth. Sauté each type of mushroom separately, until tender and lightly browned in: Olive oil and a little butter.
• Turn the cooked mushrooms onto a cutting board and chop to the size of the cooked vegetables. Combine with the vegetables and herbs in the large skillet and add: 1/2 cup cream or crème fraîche, 1 cup water or chicken broth.
• Bring to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes. Taste for salt and add as needed. Moisten with more liquid if too thick.
• Add 1/2 cup peas or cooked greens such as spinach, rocket, or chard to the sauce with the broth and cream.