Mushroom Straw and Hay Pasta

(from saymyname’s recipe box)

Source: Rachael Ray

Serves 4 people

Categories: Italian, Main Dish, Pasta, Rachael Ray

Ingredients

  • A handful of dried mixed or porcini mushrooms (1/2 ounce)
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1/2 pound spinach tagliatelle or fettuccine pasta
  • 1/2 pound egg tagliatelle or fettuccine pasta
  • About 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
  • 4 large portobello mushroom caps, gills scraped or 3/4 pound crimini mushrooms, thinly sliced
  • 4 large cloves garlic, very thinly sliced or finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup Marsala wine
  • 1/2 pound farm spinach or black (Tuscan) kale, thinly sliced or shredded
  • A little freshly grated nutmeg, to taste
  • 3 tablespoons cold butter, cut into pieces
  • Shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, for garnish

Directions

  1. Place the dried mushrooms in a small saucepan and cover with about 1 1/2-2 cups water. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes to reconstitute the mushrooms and flavor the water. Remove the mushrooms with a slotted spoon and finely chop. Strain the liquid through a fine-mesh strainer. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it, add the two pastas and cook until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water.

  2. While the pasta is working, in a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat the EVOO, four turns of the pan, over medium-high heat. Add the portobellos (or criminis) and brown for 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic and thyme for 2-3 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Deglaze the pan with the Marsala and cook off the alcohol. Add the greens to wilt and season with nutmeg. Add the reconstituted mushrooms and 1 cup of their strained broth.

  3. Add the butter to melt. Add the pasta and toss for 1 minute to combine the flavors, adding the reserved pasta cooking water if necessary. Season, to taste, and serve in bowls, topped with the cheese.

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