Mushroom Pasta with Pepper & Pecorino
Servings:
2 to 3
prep time:
10 mins
cook time:
20 mins
Total time:
30 mins
Ingredients
-
8 ounces short pasta shape such as campanelle
-
1 ½ teaspoons coarse pepper, plus additional for garnish
-
Vermont Creamery Sea Salt Cultured Butter - 82% Butterfat
3 divided tablespoons cut into 1-tablespoon pieces
-
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
-
8 cremini mushrooms, stems trimmed, caps and stems thinly sliced about 1/4 inch
-
¾ cup Pecorino Romano cheese, plus additional for garnish
-
Kosher salt, if desired
Directions
STEP 1
- Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until 1 minute shy of al dente. Drain, reserving 1 1/2 cups pasta water.
STEP 2
- Meanwhile, add pepper to large, cold skillet. Cook over medium-low heat 30-60 seconds or until toasted and fragrant.
STEP 3
- Increase heat to medium-high. Add 2 tablespoons butter and olive oil to skillet; heat until butter foams. Add mushrooms; toss to coat. Arrange mushrooms in single layer in skillet (as much as possible). Cook, stirring occasionally and scraping any pepper bits from bottom of skillet, 8-10 minutes or until mushrooms start to brown and most of liquid has evaporated. (If pasta is still cooking, remove skillet from heat and set aside until pasta is done.)
STEP 4
- Meanwhile, combine 3/4 cup Pecorino cheese and 3-4 tablespoons reserved pasta water; mix to consistency of loose paste. Set aside.
STEP 5
- Return skillet to medium-low heat. Add almost-al dente pasta, 1/2 cup reserved pasta water and remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Cook; toss to combine with mushrooms, being sure to scrape up any bits on bottom of skillet. Remove from heat. Add cheese paste and 1/2 cup reserved pasta water. Stir until pasta is well coated, glossy and absorbs most of liquid. (If bottom of skillet looks dry, add more reserved pasta water, 1 tablespoon at a time.) Taste; season with pinch of salt, if desired.
STEP 6
- Plate pasta; top with additional coarse black pepper and grated Pecorino, if desired. Serve immediately.
