Description
A rich and flavorful pasta dish featuring crispy pancetta, sautéed mushrooms, and garlic in a creamy sauce, finished with parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. This easy-to-make meal is perfect for weeknight dinners or casual entertaining.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 pound linguine pasta
Protein
- 4 ounces pancetta, diced
Vegetables
- 11 ounces white mushrooms, roughly chopped
- 3-5 cloves garlic, minced
Dairy
- 1/2 cup heavy or whipping cream
- Grated parmesan cheese, to taste (optional)
Others
- Pepper, to taste
- Chopped parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add linguine and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare Pancetta: Dice pancetta if not pre-cut. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat, add pancetta, and cook, stirring frequently, until it’s crispy and browned.
- Chop Mushrooms: While pancetta cooks, roughly chop the mushrooms to your preferred size.
- Sauté Mushrooms: Add the chopped mushrooms to the skillet with the pancetta. Reduce heat to medium and stir to combine.
- Add Garlic: Mince garlic directly into the skillet. Stir and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring often, until mushrooms are softened and fragrant.
- Add Cream: Pour in the heavy cream and reduce heat to medium-low. Let the sauce simmer gently for about 5 minutes to thicken.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked and drained pasta to the skillet. Toss thoroughly to coat the pasta with the pancetta, mushroom, and cream sauce mixture.
- Serve: Plate the pasta immediately. Garnish with freshly grated parmesan cheese and chopped parsley if desired. Season with black pepper to taste.
Notes
- You can substitute pancetta with good quality bacon if pancetta is unavailable.
- To keep mushrooms from becoming soggy, cook them until just softened.
- For a lighter dish, reduce the amount of cream or substitute with half-and-half.
- Reserve some pasta water before draining to loosen the sauce if it becomes too thick.
- This dish pairs well with a simple green salad and a glass of white wine.
