Description
Creamy Mushroom Pastina is a comforting and creamy Italian-inspired pasta dish featuring finely ground and sautéed cremini mushrooms, tender acini di pepe pasta, rich heavy cream, and tangy Pecorino Romano cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb. cremini or baby bella mushrooms, rinsed, divided (12 oz. for pureeing, 4 oz. thinly sliced)
- 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, divided
- 1 large shallot, finely chopped
- 8 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 2 1/3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth (more if needed)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 8 oz. acini di pepe (pastina)
- 2 oz. Pecorino Romano, finely grated (about 1 cup)
- Kosher salt, to taste
Instructions
- In a food processor, pulse 12 oz. of the mushrooms until finely ground, with some small uneven pieces remaining. Thinly slice the remaining 4 oz. for later use.
- Heat 1 Tbsp. olive oil and 1 Tbsp. butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced mushrooms and cook, stirring frequently, until browned and nearly crispy, about 8 minutes. Season with kosher salt and transfer to a plate.
- In the same skillet, heat the remaining 1 Tbsp. olive oil and 1 Tbsp. butter over medium-high heat until melted. Add the pureed mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until they start to brown and most moisture evaporates, approximately 10 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add the finely chopped shallot and garlic to the skillet with the ground mushrooms, seasoning with salt. Cook while stirring until shallots soften, about 5 minutes. Pour in the vegetable broth, scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Bring to a simmer. Add the acini di pepe pasta and season with salt. Reduce heat to medium-low, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and adding more broth as necessary, until the pasta is al dente, about 12 minutes.
- Stir in the heavy cream and grated Pecorino Romano cheese. Cook on gentle heat, stirring frequently, until the cheese fully melts and the sauce thickens slightly, about 2 to 3 minutes. Fold in the caramelized sliced mushrooms just before serving for added texture and flavor.
Notes
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 360 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
Keywords: Creamy Mushroom Pastina, Pasta, Italian Recipe