Earthy wild mushrooms and a silky cream sauce come together with the deep, mellow richness of our Frantoio Extra Virgin Olive Oil and a finishing drizzle of Traditional Dark Balsamic Condimento — comfort food with a gourmet edge.
Ingredients
- 16oz of penne pasta or pasta of your choice
- 1 cup dried mushrooms such as shitake, porcini, and morel
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons Frantoio Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1/3 cup dry Marsala wine
- 1/2 cup reserved mushroom stock (soaking liquid)
- 2 tablespoons Traditional Dark Balsamic Condimento
- 1 large shallot, sliced thin
- 1 medium red onion, sliced thin
- 1 – 2″ sprig of fresh thyme, leaves only
- kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
- Grated Pecorino Romano cheese
Instructions
- Place mushrooms in a small bowl and pour one cup of boiling water over the mushrooms and set aside. Place a large sauté pan, over medium heat. Add the EVOO, onion and shallot and a small sprinkle of kosher salt. Sauté slowly until the onions are caramelized, being careful not to burn them. This should take approximately 5 minutes until they are golden brown.
- Drain the mushrooms well reserving the soaking liquid. Chop lightly if the pieces are large. Add the mushrooms and thyme leaves to the sauté pan. Sauté for another minute and then add the Marsala wine, scraping up any browned bits.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Reduce the wine by half and add the mushroom stock. Continue cooking over medium heat until liquid is again reduced by half. Add in the balsamic, and then the heavy cream stirring well to combine. Allow to simmer for an additional minute or two, to allow the sauce to thicken. Season well with kosher salt and a generous amount of fresh ground pepper.
- Boil your pasta in the salted water, cook until al dente.
Add the drained pasta to the sauce and toss to coat, loosening with a splash of pasta water if needed. Remove from heat, sprinkle with Pecorino Romano, adjust seasoning, and serve warm with a drizzle of balsamic or fresh thyme.
