Description
Orecchiette with Mushroom Thyme Sauce is a comforting and flavorful Italian pasta dish. The small, ear-shaped orecchiette pasta perfectly captures the rich, earthy sauce made with mushrooms and fragrant thyme. This recipe is simple to prepare, making it ideal for weeknights, yet sophisticated enough for guests.
Ingredients
Scale
- 400g orecchiette pasta
- 250g fresh mushrooms (cremini or shiitake), sliced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- 200ml vegetable broth
- 100ml heavy cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the orecchiette pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain, reserving some pasta water.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté the chopped onion until translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Add sliced mushrooms and sauté until tender and browned, about 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in fresh thyme leaves.
- Pour in vegetable broth and simmer for 3-4 minutes until slightly reduced.
- Stir in heavy cream and simmer for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Add the cooked orecchiette to the skillet. Toss to coat the pasta in the sauce. Add reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and grated Parmesan cheese, if desired. Serve hot.
Notes
- For a vegan option, substitute heavy cream with coconut cream or cashew cream.
- Add leafy greens like spinach or kale for extra nutrition.
- Use a variety of mushrooms for a more complex flavor.
- Ensure mushrooms are tender and browned before proceeding.
- Dried thyme can be used; use one-third the amount of fresh thyme.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Pasta, Dinner, Vegetarian
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400 kcal
- Sugar: N/A
- Sodium: N/A
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: N/A
- Unsaturated Fat: N/A
- Trans Fat: N/A
- Carbohydrates: N/A
- Fiber: N/A
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: N/A