Lemony Mushrooms and Spinach Pasta

It is delicious with just these ingredients but I like adding the cream to give the whole dish some richness & a little decadence.

Recipe and photo by Christina from Strawberries For Supper.

Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 20 mins | Serves: 4

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil
4 slices pancetta, chopped
250g crimini or button mushrooms, sliced
1 tbsp butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
225g linguine (about ½ a package)
juice and zest of 1 lemon
1/3 cup whipping cream (35% cream)
¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan (plus more for serving)
75g (or 2 loosely packed cups) baby spinach
½ cup pasta cooking water – reserved to loosen sauce if needed
Salt and pepper to taste

Method

1. Set a large pot of salted water to boil in readiness for the pasta.
2. In a large frying pan, add olive oil and pancetta and fry pancetta until it is crispy. Meanwhile, slice the mushrooms.
3. When the pancetta is crispy add the butter and sliced mushrooms with a good pinch of salt and pepper. Saute over a medium high heat until the mushrooms are brown. Add the garlic and saute for a few minutes. If you add it earlier, it could burn. After you start sautéing the mushrooms, start cooking the pasta. Boil the pasta according to package directions until al dente (about 7 minutes).
4. When the mushrooms are done add the lemon juice and zest. Stir the lemon juice around to deglaze the pan.
5. Add the cream and Parmesan cheese. If the pasta is close to being done, add the spinach. If you need a bit more time then turn the heat off the frying pan and when the pasta is just about done, turn the heat back on the frying pan and add the spinach then. Stir the spinach around to wilt it over a medium heat.
6. Before draining the pasta, take out about ½ cup of the pasta cooking water.
7. Drain the pasta when it is al dente and add the pasta to the frying pan. Stir it around with the mushrooms, spinach, and lemony cream sauce. Add a few splashes of pasta cooking water until you achieve a light sauce consistency. Add more salt and pepper to your taste if needed.
8. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan cheese.
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Spaghetti Bolognese

Simple ingredients simmer together to create a robust and satisfying sauce that is even better the next day. 

Prep Time: 15 mins. | Cook Time: 1 hr. | Serves: 6

Ingredients

12 oz (375 g) fresh crimini Mushrooms
1 onion
4 cloves garlic
1 tbsp (15 mL) olive oil
12 oz (375 g) lean ground beef
2 tbsp (30 mL) Worcestershire sauce
1 pkt (5 g) Mushrooms Seasoning Blend
1 1/2 tsp (7 mL) salt
1/2 cup (125 mL) red wine
1 can (156 mL) tomato paste
1 bottle (720 mL) strained tomato purée
1 lb (500 g) spaghetti, cooked and drained
1/2 cup (125 mL) torn fresh basil leaves
Parmesan cheese

 

Method

1. Place the mushrooms, onion and garlic in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Pulse until finely chopped. Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or large saucepan set over medium heat. Crumble in the ground beef. Cook for 5 minutes or until browned. Add the mushroom mixture, Worcestershire sauce, seasoning blend and salt. Cook for 5 minutes or until tender.
2. Stir in the wine; simmer for 1 minute. Add the tomato paste. Cook, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes or until dark red. Stir in the tomato puree. Simmer for 45 minutes or until thickened. Toss the spaghetti with the sauce and basil. Serve with Parmesan cheese.Tip: Freeze any leftover sauce in a tight container for up to 1 month.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving:
Calories 453
Sodium 571mg
Protein 25g
Fat 8g
Carbohydrates 66g
Dietary Fibre 8
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Chicken Marsala Pasta Bake

This casserole may not be low-cal, low-carb, paleo or Whole 30 compliant, but it is hearty and flavourful and will warm you right down to your toes.

Recipe and photo by Isabelle of Crumb: A Food Blog

Prep Time: 20 mins. | Cook Time: 30 mins. | Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

1 lb uncooked pasta (preferably a chunky shape like ziti or penne)
1 tbsp olive oil
3 strips bacon, finely chopped
¾ lb fresh button mushrooms, cut into thick slices
½ cup thinly sliced yellow onion
½ tsp salt
½ tsp fresh ground black pepper
½ cup dry marsala wine (or dry sherry, if you prefer)
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 tbsp water
2 tbsp flour
2 tbsp heavy cream
2 cups diced cooked chicken
3 tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 tub (200g) mini bocconcini cheese, drained
½ cup grated parmesan cheese, divided

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 375F.
2. Bring a pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until not quite al dente, about 2 minutes short of the recommended cooking time. Drain and set aside.
3. While the pasta is cooking, heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add the bacon, and cook for 5-7 minutes or until crispy. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a small bowl, and set aside.
4. Add the mushrooms to the pan, and saute for about 5 minutes, or until they start to brown and let off some liquid. Add the onions, salt and pepper and continue cooking for another 7-10 minutes, or until the onions are very soft and all of the liquid from the mushrooms has cooked off. Stir in the Marsala and cook until almost completely evaporated, scraping the edges and bottom of the pan to release any browned bits that are stuck to the bottom.
5. Stir the stock into the pan and bring to a simmer. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and water until smooth, and stir into the sauce as soon as it starts to bubble. Let simmer, stirring frequently, for about 2 minutes or until thick and glossy. Remove pan from heat, and stir in the heavy cream.
6. Stir in the reserved bacon, along with the chicken, parsley, and ¼ cup of parmesan, then add the cooked, drained pasta and the bocconcini cheese. Stir well, making sure that everything gets evenly mixed and the pasta is completely coated with sauce. (Note: if your pot isn’t big enough, you can also use a large mixing bowl for this step).
7. Spoon the mixture into a 2qt oven-safe casserole dish, and sprinkle the top with the remaining ¼ cup parmesan. Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling around the edges. Serve immediately with more chopped parsley for garnish.

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Spinach Ravioli with Chicken, Mushroom and Three Cheese Sauce

This is one of those meals that comes together quickly and with little effort thanks to a package of fresh ravioli and a handy jar of three cheese pasta sauce. Ground chicken and finely diced mushrooms blended perfectly into the pre-made three cheese sauce making this ravioli dish hearty and filling.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Brittany from My Daily Randomness.

Prep Time: 10 mins. | Cook Time: 35 mins.

Ingredients

1 package sliced mushrooms, finely diced
1 small onion, diced
1/2 lb. ground chicken
Sprinkle of Italian seasoning
1 jar (24oz) of three cheese pasta sauce
Dash of nutmeg (optional)
Dash of cinnamon (optional)
1 package (700g) fresh spinach and cheese ravioli
Parmesan cheese (optional)

Method

1. Finely dice one package of mushrooms and one small onion. In a large skillet over medium high heat, saute mushrooms until moisture has evaporated and mushrooms start to brown, about 3-4 minutes. Add onions and continue to cook just until onions start to turn translucent.
2. Add chicken and Italian seasoning to skillet and continue to cook until chicken is no longer pink. Be sure to break up any large pieces as the chicken cooks.
3. Lowering heat to low, add jar of pasta sauce, nutmeg and cinnamon, and allow to simmer.
4. Meanwhile in a large pot, cook package of ravioli as per package directions. Drain. Return to pot and pour in pasta sauce. Stir gently until ravioli is coated. Serve hot with fresh grated Parmesan cheese.
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Spicy Noodles with Shiitake Mushrooms

Recipe courtesy of Suzie from Suzie the Foodie.

Prep Time: 15 mins. | Cook Time: 10 mins.

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil
1 cup of freshly cooked pasta, your choice which kind
1/8 of a brick of firm tofu, cut into 1/2″ squares (about 10 pieces)
1 cup de-stemmed shiitake mushrooms, chopped
3 tbsp cornstarch
3 tbsp soy sauce
A little Sriracha hot sauce
Some toasted nuts and a handful of spinach
Spicy Peanut Sauce
2 tbsp peanut butter
2 tbsp seasoned rice vinegar
1/2 tbsp soy sauce
Sriracha hot sauce (as much as you can handle, I just use a dot!)

Method

1. Bring small frying pan to medium heat. Add olive oil.
2. Combine soy sauce with a little tiny bit of Sriracha hot sauce. Gently toss tofu in mixture.
3. Coat tofu in a shallow bowl with cornstarch.
4. Add to hot pan and saute on all sides. The tofu will develop a delicious crust.
5. When tofu is mostly brown, add the shiitake mushrooms for at least five minutes.
6. In serving bowl, combine ingredients for peanut sauce. Whisk together. Will take a while but it will come together.
7. Add in tofu, mushrooms, spinach, nuts and pasta.
8. Stir to combine until everything is nicely coated.
If you prefer to have your spinach cooked, add one minute before the tofu and mushrooms are done to help wilt. To be able to absorb the iron from the spinach, make sure to have with either juice or a smoothie high in vitamin C.
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