Laura Smith
Pancetta and mushroom is a pasta dish that combines salty, crispy pancetta with earthy mushrooms and a creamy sauce. It is a quick and easy meal that can be made in under 30 minutes and is perfect for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion. The recipe typically includes garlic, cream, Parmesan cheese, and pasta of your choice, such as tagliatelle or penne. It is a flavorful and hearty dish that can be paired with a light and refreshing side, such as a green salad.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of dish | Pasta |
| Main ingredients | Pancetta, mushroom |
| Other ingredients | Pasta, butter, heavy cream, garlic paste, grated Parmesan, black pepper, olive oil, red pepper flakes, onion, white wine, chicken stock, vegetable stock, salt, tomato paste, canned tomatoes, green olives, basil, lemon juice |
| Vegetarian alternative | Replace pancetta with sundried tomatoes, chicken stock with vegetable stock, and Parmesan cheese with a suitable vegetarian alternative |
| Preparation time | 17 minutes |
| Recipe yield | 4 servings |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Pancetta and mushroom pasta recipes
Pancetta is a salt-cured pork product similar to bacon, and it is often used as a flavourful addition to pasta dishes. Mushrooms, particularly wild or earthy varieties, are another popular ingredient in pasta recipes.
Tagliatelle with Pancetta and Mushroom Cream Sauce:
This recipe by Jennine Rye is perfect for a quick, flavourful weeknight dinner. It takes just 17 minutes to make and requires only eight ingredients.
Ingredients:
- Tagliatelle pasta
- Pancetta
- Butter
- Heavy cream
- Garlic paste
- Grated Parmesan
- Black pepper
- Wild mushrooms
Instructions:
Start by boiling a large pot of water and cooking the tagliatelle according to the package instructions until al dente. Meanwhile, heat a large frying pan to medium-high heat and add the pancetta. Fry until it begins to turn golden, then add butter, mushrooms, and garlic paste. Sauté for a few minutes until the mushrooms soften. Add the cream and mix with the pan juices. Once warmed, stir in the grated Parmesan and black pepper until a smooth sauce forms. Drain the pasta, reserving a cup of pasta water. Add the pasta to the sauce and mix, adding pasta water as needed to create a silky sauce. Serve with an extra sprinkling of Parmesan and a side salad.
Fusilli with Pancetta, Shiitake Mushrooms, and Wilted Greens:
This one-pot pasta dish by Yasmin Fahr is ready in just 25 minutes and offers a tasty combination of flavours.
Ingredients:
- Fusilli pasta
- Diced pancetta
- Shiitake mushrooms
- Shallot
- Serrano pepper
- Vegetable stock or broth
- Bunch of greens (e.g., dandelion, mustard, or kale)
- Lemon
- Grated Parmesan
Instructions:
Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the pancetta and cook until lightly browned and the fat begins to render. Stir in the mushrooms, shallot, and serrano pepper, cooking until browned. Scrape the pancetta mixture into a bowl and set aside. Add the vegetable stock to the saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook the fusilli in the stock until most of the liquid is absorbed. Stir in the greens and cook until wilted. Finally, add the pancetta-mushroom mixture back into the pan, along with the rendered fat, lemon juice, and Parmesan. The rendered fat will blend with the remaining liquid to create a creamy, emulsified sauce.
Penne with Pancetta and Mushrooms:
This classic pasta dish combines butter, garlic, and umami flavours for a quick and tasty meal.
Ingredients:
- Penne pasta
- Pancetta, roughly chopped
- Butter
- Mushrooms, sliced
- White wine (or additional stock)
- Stock
- Heavy cream
- Grated Parmesan
Instructions:
Cook the penne in a large pot of salted boiling water until tender yet firm (about 8-10 minutes). Drain and set aside. In a large skillet, cook the pancetta over medium heat until browned, then drain the grease and discard. In the same skillet, melt butter and stir in the mushrooms until softened. Add the white wine and let it reduce, then pour in the stock and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the cream and Parmesan, then add the cooked pasta to the skillet. Serve with extra grated Parmesan and fresh parsley.
Feel free to experiment with different types of mushrooms and pastas to create your own unique pancetta and mushroom pasta dish!
The Rise of Giorgio: A Mushroom Empire
You may want to see also
Pancetta substitutes
Pancetta is a salt-cured pork belly meat product, originating in Italy. It is typically sold sliced and cubed and can be eaten cooked or uncooked. It has a strong pork taste and a high salt and fat content.
Pancetta is a very popular ingredient, but sometimes a substitute is required due to dietary needs, health goals, or simply for variety.
Meat-based substitutes
- Bacon is the obvious choice, as it has a similar fat content and flavour profile to pancetta. However, bacon is smoked, so it has a stronger flavour and higher fat content. You may need to precook the bacon and remove some of the fat.
- Prosciutto is another type of cured pork, which matches pancetta's saltiness and unsmoked flavour. It has a delicate, buttery texture and is usually served thinly sliced. It is often used in antipasti, pasta dishes, or wrapped around vegetables.
- Smoked ham and gammon offer a sweet-savoury balance with a touch of smokiness. Gammon has a firmer texture, making it ideal for dicing or slicing.
- Guanciale is made from the cheek of the pig and has a deeper flavour than pancetta. It is also fattier, making the meat more tender.
- Beef or lamb bacon can be purchased from kosher or halal butchers.
Meatless substitutes
- Olives provide a similar texture to pancetta, but will not have the same flavour.
- Mushrooms bring an umami flavour to dishes. Rehydrated porcini mushrooms are a good choice, and you can add some of the hydrating liquid to your dish.
- Smoked tofu adds a subtle smokiness that mimics pancetta’s depth of flavour. It has a firm yet slightly spongy texture.
- Sun-dried tomatoes provide a tangy, slightly sweet burst of flavour. They lack pancetta’s fattiness, but have a wonderful concentrated taste.
- Smoked paprika has a complex flavour that can remind people of bacon/pancetta.
- Anchovies provide a salty, umami flavour, but do not have a similar texture to pancetta.
Mushrooms: Clean Food or Unclean?
You may want to see also
Types of mushrooms used
Pancetta and mushroom is a pasta dish that combines salty, crispy pancetta with earthy mushrooms. The recipe is versatile and can be made with various types of mushrooms, depending on personal preference. Here are some common types of mushrooms used in this dish:
Shiitake Mushrooms
Shiitake mushrooms are a popular variety known for their earthy, umami flavour. They have a meaty texture and a rich, savoury taste that complements the salty pancetta. Shiitake mushrooms are often used in skillet pasta recipes with pancetta and add a depth of flavour to the dish.
Wild Mushrooms
Wild mushrooms offer a variety of flavours and textures, ranging from delicate to robust. They can include chanterelles, morels, and oyster mushrooms, each contributing a unique taste and aroma to the pasta. Wild mushrooms are foraged from forests and fields, adding a natural, earthy character to the dish.
Baby Bella Mushrooms
Baby Bella mushrooms, also known as cremini mushrooms, are a smaller, younger version of portobello mushrooms. They have a more delicate texture and a slightly milder flavour than mature portobellos. Baby Bellas add a subtle earthiness to the pasta without overwhelming the other ingredients.
White Button Mushrooms
White button mushrooms are one of the most commonly used varieties in cooking. They have a mild flavour and a tender texture, making them a versatile choice for pasta dishes. White button mushrooms can be sautéed or fried, absorbing the flavours of the pancetta and other ingredients in the dish.
Mixed Mushrooms
Some recipes encourage using a mixture of different mushroom varieties to create a complex and nuanced flavour profile. Combining mushrooms with varying textures and tastes can enhance the depth and richness of the pasta. This approach allows cooks to experiment with different types of mushrooms and find their preferred blend.
The versatility of the pancetta and mushroom pasta dish allows home cooks to choose their favourite mushroom varieties or whatever is available in their local markets. Each type of mushroom brings its unique characteristics to the dish, ensuring a delightful culinary experience.
Mushrooms: Are They Vegetables or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Other ingredients
The other ingredients used in the pancetta and mushroom pasta recipe vary slightly depending on the source. However, most recipes call for the following:
Pasta
Penne, fusilli, farfalle, rotini, tagliatelle, pappardelle, or any other type of pasta can be used. The choice of pasta depends on personal preference, but traditionally, a wider noodle is served with creamy sauces. For example, tagliatelle or pappardelle have plenty of width for the sauce to stick to.
Butter
Butter is used in most recipes to add flavour and richness to the dish.
Cream
Heavy or light cream is added to create a creamy and velvety texture in the pasta sauce. Lower-fat creme fraiche or light cream can be used as a substitute.
Cheese
Grated Parmesan cheese is commonly used in the pancetta and mushroom pasta recipe. It adds a salty, savoury element to the dish. Other Italian cheeses such as Pecorino or Grana Padano can be used as substitutes. For a vegetarian option, vegetarian alternatives to Parmesan can be used.
Spices
Black pepper is often added for extra flavour. Red pepper flakes are also used in some recipes, as they add a wonderful depth of flavour to the sauce without adding heat.
Garlic
Fresh or paste garlic is used in the recipe, adding a beautiful note to the sauce.
Onion
Red onion is commonly used in the recipe, but any variety of onion, such as yellow, white, or green onions, can be used.
White Wine
A dry white wine is added to the sauce, but it can be substituted with additional stock or broth if alcohol is not preferred.
Stock or Broth
Chicken or vegetable stock (or broth) is used in the recipe, adding flavour to the dish.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is used as the base for the sauce, so a good quality olive oil is recommended.
Greens
Some recipes call for wilted greens such as dandelion, mustard, or kale to be added to the dish.
Tomatoes
Some recipes include fresh or canned tomatoes, which are blitzed with a stick blender to create a smoother sauce.
Tomato Paste
Tomato paste adds richness to the tomato pasta sauce and should be given time to cook off.
Olives
Green olives are preferred in the recipe, as they have more flavour. However, any colour of olive will work.
Mushrooms: Nature's Medicine Cabinet
You may want to see also
Cooking methods
Pancetta is Italian bacon, full of flavour. It is often used in pasta recipes, with mushrooms being a popular complementary ingredient.
There are several ways to cook pancetta, depending on the desired outcome and the other ingredients used.
- For crispy pancetta, cook over medium heat until browned but not crispy, about 5 minutes. Drain on a paper towel and set aside.
- For softer pancetta, cook in a large pan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the fat begins to render and the pancetta is lightly browned, about 2-3 minutes.
- If using pancetta to build flavour in a sauce, it can be cooked until the fat is rendered, and then the other ingredients can be added. For example, in a pasta dish, the rendered fat from the pancetta can be used to create a creamy sauce.
- When cooking with mushrooms, it is recommended to brown the pancetta first, and then add the mushrooms to the pan, cooking until they are softened and browned.
- Pancetta can also be cooked with vegetables such as onions, shallots, and garlic, to create a flavour base for a sauce or dish.
- It is important to note that pancetta is salty, so care should be taken when seasoning dishes that include it.
Pancetta is a versatile ingredient that can be cooked in a variety of ways to enhance the flavour of a dish. Whether it is used as a crispy topping or incorporated into a sauce, pancetta adds depth and flavour to any meal.
Foraging Mushrooms: Best Time to Pick
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Pancetta and mushroom is a pasta dish that combines pancetta, mushrooms, and various other ingredients. It is a quick, easy-to-make, and flavorful meal.
The ingredients for making pancetta and mushroom include pancetta, mushrooms, butter, olive oil, cream, garlic, onion, Parmesan, and pasta. You can also add vegetables like tomatoes, olives, and greens.
To make pancetta and mushroom, start by frying the pancetta in a pan until it is golden brown. Then, add the mushrooms and other ingredients, such as onion and garlic, and cook until softened. Finally, add the cream and Parmesan, and mix until a smooth sauce forms. Serve the sauce with your choice of pasta.
