Creamy Rigatoni Florentine with Sautéed Mushrooms and Toasted
Walnuts is a rich and satisfying pasta dish that incorporates the warm,
earthy flavors of fall. Served as a vegetarian meal, or as a side dish,
this recipe is savory, healthy and delicious. The recipe calls for
button mushrooms - easily available in most grocery stores - and
mascarpone cheese - an Italian cream cheese available in the dairy
section - but you can also use wild mushrooms and regular cream cheese.
Ingredients
· 1 pound of rigatoni or similar pasta
· 1 large package (12 oz.) of fresh mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
· 1 large bag (10-12 oz.) of fresh baby spinach, washed well and stems removed
· 1 cup walnut pieces
· 3 tablespoons butter
· 1 small container (8 oz.) mascarpone cheese
· 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
· salt and fresh ground black pepper
· 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg or 1/2 teaspoon dried nutmeg.
Instructions
1. Put a large pot of water on to boil. (4 quarts or liters for a pound of pasta)
2. While the water is heating, carefully clean the mushrooms with a brush or damp towel, cut off the tough end of the stems and slice them. Avoid running the mushrooms under water as this makes them tough and chewy. Look for fresh, pre-sliced mushrooms to save time. Melt the butter in a large saucepan and sauté the mushrooms on medium low. Once they start to exude moisture, season lightly with salt and pepper. Continue cooking until the mushrooms are a rich golden brown and some of the liquid has been cooked down.
3. Add the spinach and stir together until the spinach is just wilted.
4. Add the mascarpone cheese and 1/2 of the Parmesan cheese and blend well. Heat through. The mascarpone cheese will start to melt and thin out a bit as it warms up. Season with fresh nutmeg, salt and fresh-ground black pepper and turn the heat to low to keep warm.
5. When the water is at a rolling boil, add 1 heaping tablespoon of salt and drop in the pasta. Stir gently to keep the pasta from sticking. Cook according to the package directions until al dente (firm to the bite).
6. While the pasta is cooking, gently toast the walnuts in a small, dry saucepan on medium low heat. Set aside.
7. When the pasta is done, carefully reserve a 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water and set aside. Drain the pasta and add it back into the hot pot, off the heat.
8. Add the mushroom and spinach sauce and toss everything together to combine. Add a splash of the reserved pasta water to smooth out the sauce to a silky consistency.
9. Plate the pasta and garnish with the toasted walnuts and the remainder of the Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.
For more delicious pasta recipes and gorgeous photos, visit us online.
Ingredients
· 1 pound of rigatoni or similar pasta
· 1 large package (12 oz.) of fresh mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
· 1 large bag (10-12 oz.) of fresh baby spinach, washed well and stems removed
· 1 cup walnut pieces
· 3 tablespoons butter
· 1 small container (8 oz.) mascarpone cheese
· 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
· salt and fresh ground black pepper
· 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg or 1/2 teaspoon dried nutmeg.
Instructions
1. Put a large pot of water on to boil. (4 quarts or liters for a pound of pasta)
2. While the water is heating, carefully clean the mushrooms with a brush or damp towel, cut off the tough end of the stems and slice them. Avoid running the mushrooms under water as this makes them tough and chewy. Look for fresh, pre-sliced mushrooms to save time. Melt the butter in a large saucepan and sauté the mushrooms on medium low. Once they start to exude moisture, season lightly with salt and pepper. Continue cooking until the mushrooms are a rich golden brown and some of the liquid has been cooked down.
3. Add the spinach and stir together until the spinach is just wilted.
4. Add the mascarpone cheese and 1/2 of the Parmesan cheese and blend well. Heat through. The mascarpone cheese will start to melt and thin out a bit as it warms up. Season with fresh nutmeg, salt and fresh-ground black pepper and turn the heat to low to keep warm.
5. When the water is at a rolling boil, add 1 heaping tablespoon of salt and drop in the pasta. Stir gently to keep the pasta from sticking. Cook according to the package directions until al dente (firm to the bite).
6. While the pasta is cooking, gently toast the walnuts in a small, dry saucepan on medium low heat. Set aside.
7. When the pasta is done, carefully reserve a 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water and set aside. Drain the pasta and add it back into the hot pot, off the heat.
8. Add the mushroom and spinach sauce and toss everything together to combine. Add a splash of the reserved pasta water to smooth out the sauce to a silky consistency.
9. Plate the pasta and garnish with the toasted walnuts and the remainder of the Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.
For more delicious pasta recipes and gorgeous photos, visit us online.
Christine Coughlan is the author, designer and publisher of http://www.MyFavoritePastaRecipes.com,
your one-stop resource for pasta recipes, ideas, how-to and more!
You'll find simple step-by-step recipes with beautiful images, helpful
how-to videos, drool-worthy culinary tours, timely seasonal inspiration
and much more. Quick and easy one-dish dinner ideas, classic pasta and
sauce combinations, rich and satisfying lasagnas, even an in depth video
series on how to make fresh pasta by hand that will keep you coming
back for more. To keep things flowing smoothly in your kitchen, look for
her handy tips and timing techniques. From gathering your ingredients
to garnishing your plate, you'll look like a seasoned pro. To check out
more great pasta recipes, visit today!
