Creamy Mushroom and Pancetta Pasta is a simple recipe that delivers an eloquent meal in no time. A cream decadent sauce reminiscent of your favorite Carbonara loaded with Shiitake Mushrooms, Onions, fresh Garlic, Pancetta and Italian Blend Cheeses. Served with your favorite Pasta or if you are like me, a chance to try a random Pasta just because you can.
Everyone loves a good pasta and what better way to make it right out of the comfort of your home. It can be as simple as you want it or as fancy as you choose it to be. Nobody needs to know how it is derived, only that it taste delicious. Creamy Mushroom and Pancetta Pasta brings my love of Carbonara to my menu with a few simple twist. Carbonara is simply an Italian Pasta dish that incorporates a cured pork, parmesan/romano cheese , fresh black pepper and egg. Its light on the ingredients but rich in flavor and everyone should experience this dish at least once in their lifetime.
I’ve enjoyed recreating this dish many times and making it my own. Hence this recipe I will share with you. The addition of meaty Shiitake Mushrooms, Onions and a twist on cheeses gives it more sustenance and elevated flavor. I like to think this was an upgrade to a Carbonara even though it’s not traditional. Serve it with your favorite Pasta and bring Italian cooking right to your dining room table. While this is one of my versions, you can make it your own. Add additional vegetables for added nutrition or if you are looking to recreate my version to make it your own, do so. The ideas are limitless but we’ll always have one thing in common, cooking with soul.
Tradition is of others but others alone do not always create tradition!
~Sandy M
Creamy Mushroom and Pancetta Pasta
Equipment
- Cutting Board
- Knife
- Deep Skillet
- Pasta Pot with Lid
Ingredients
Protein
- 8 oz Pancetta Diced
Produce
- 1 White Onion Sliced thinly
- 5 Cloves Minced
- 5 oz Package of Shiitake or Portabella Mushrooms Sliced
Dairy
- 3 oz Shredded Italian Blend Cheese
- 3 oz Mexican Blend Cheese
- 1 pint Heavy Whipping Cream
- 1 tbsp Butter
Pasta
- 12 oz Barilla Caserecce Pasta May substitute for your favorite Pasta
Seasonings
- 1 tbsp Garlic Herb Seasoning No Salt
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- 1 tsp Dry Thyme
- Spicy Garlic & Himalayan Salt May substitute for Sea Salt
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
Oil/Fat
- Olive Oil
- 1 tbsp Bacon Fat (Optional) For additional Smokey flavor
Instructions
Pasta Preparation
- Prepare Pasta according to the directions on box. Prior to draining water, reserve 1 cup of Pasta Water to add to cream sauce.
Sauce
- Heat deep Skillet on medium/high giving the skillet a drizzle of Olive Oil.
- Add Pancetta and minced Garlic and begin searing for 3-5 minutes or until starts to smell fragrant.
- Place all of the Mushrooms and Onions into the pan and continue to sear until vegetables begin to soften.
- Add your Bacon Fat (Optional) Garlic Herb Seasoning, Thyme, Onion Powder, and a few twists of the Spicy Garlic & Himalayan Pink Salt or if you are using something else, season to your preference. Stir to incorporate seasonings and vegetables together and continue sautéing.
- When vegetables are soft and onions are translucent, slowly add the Heavy Cream. Stir and bring up to a simmer.
- Add your butter & cheese mixture while stirring to incorporate into the sauce. It will begin to thicken as the cheese begins to melt.
- Once cheese is completely melted, add your cooked Pasta into the sauce and slowly stir until the Pasta is coated with the Cream Sauce. At this point you can add as much as the reserved Pasta water depending on the consistency you are looking for.
- Taste to see if additional seasoning is needed.
- Add a generous amount of Crushed Red Pepper Flakes and give it one final stir.
- Turn the stove off, cover Skillet with lid and let it sit to allow the flavors to infuse together.
Serving
- Place Pasta into a serving dish, garnish with additional Italian Blend Cheese and enjoy with some warm crusty bread slathered in butter. Simple and delicious!!!
