Creamy Rigatoni Florentine with Sautéed Mushrooms and Toasted Walnuts is a rich and satisfying pasta dish that incorporates the warm, earthy flavors of fall. Served as a vegetarian meal, or as a side dish, this recipe is savory, healthy and delicious. The recipe calls for button mushrooms - easily available in most grocery stores - and mascarpone cheese - an Italian cream cheese available in the dairy section - but you can also use wild mushrooms and regular cream cheese.
Ingredients
· 1 pound of rigatoni or similar pasta
· 1 large package (12 oz.) Of fresh mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
· 1 large bag (10 - 12 oz.) Of fresh baby spinach, washed well and stems removed
· 1 cup walnut pieces
· 3 tablespoons butter
· 1 small container (8 oz.) Mascarpone cheese
· 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
· Salt and fresh ground black pepper
· 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg or 1/2 teaspoon dried nutmeg.
Instructions
1. Put a large pot of water on to boil. (4 quarts or liters for a pound of pasta)
2. Look for fresh, pre with Avoid running the mushrooms under water as this makes them tough and chewy. Melt the butter in a large saucepan and sauté the mushrooms on medium low. once they start to exude moisture, season lightly with salt and pepper. Continue cooking until the mushrooms are a rich golden brown and some of the liquid has been cooked down.
3. Add the spinach and stir together until the spinach is just wilted.
4. Add the mascarpone cheese and 1/2 of the Parmesan cheese and blend well. Heat through. The mascarpone cheese will start to melt and thin out a bit as it warms up. Season with fresh nutmeg, salt and fresh-ground black pepper and turn the heat to low to keep warm.
5. When the rolling boil, add 1 heaping tablespoon of salt and drop in the pasta. Cook according to the package direction until al dente (firm to the bite).
6. While the pasta is cooking, gently toast the walnuts in a small, dry saucepan on medium low heat. Set aside.
7. Drain the pasta and add it back to the hot pot, off the heat.
Add a splash of sauce and toss everything together to tooth. Add a splash of the reserved pasta water to smooth out the sauce to a silky consistency.
9. Plate the pasta and garnish with the toasted walnuts and the reminder of the Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.
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