Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Pasta with Mushrooms, Asparagus, and Fresh Herbs

I have been cooking pasta for about ten years now. I font even remember how it used to taste like but I probably can not even eat the first pasta I ever cooked. After all we are not all born gifted. Although, pasta is a simple dish to cook in my opinion it is tricky to male one. I manage to get some clues from the itallian fair on how to cook the dry pasta. Apparently for all those years I have been over cooking the pasta and it turns if it is cooked al dente pasta would be more delicious and al dente is also good for your digestive system. You want to have a big pan preferably tall one especially if you are making spaghetti with loads of water to cook the pasta. The pasta should be able to move freely in the pot. You don't want to put oil into the pasta water but you want to add some salt into the water. Also another common mistake is not waiting for the water to boil perfectly. You want the cook the pasta in a boiling  water not hot or warm water. Now I don't want to mislead with saying that I boil my pasta for 5 - 8 mins because there is so many different pasta varieties out there and I don't think I am an authority to make a generalisation on that but I would say make sure it is al dente check the instructions on the pasta package if necessary and taste your pasta to check whether it is done.

Tips for cooking the dry pasta:

  • use a big pot
  • add good amount of water check the packaging of the pasta for instructions
  • do not add oil to the boiling water
  • add salt before adding dry pasta
  • cook the pasta al dente 


Pasta
I was searching on the web for a good mushroom sauce. Most of them are using bacon in the sauce so i decided to add a meaty flavor which in my opinion can be added with using asparagus. And this recipe turned out to be very chili i don't think Italians would appreciate spicy pasta:) The  Crème fraiche  was very sour so to mask its taste i had to add a strong flavor. I would use double cream instead as a sauce.
Pasta with Mushrooms and Asparagus
Ingredients : (2 serving ) 
  • Dry spagetti for two (from the instructions on the package split the pasta)
  • 4 button mushrooms
  • 5 chestnut mushrooms
  • 8 asparagus tips
  • 1 spanish onion
  • 3 garlic cloves 
  • 3 tbsp olive oil<\li>
  • 125 ml crème fraiche (i would use single or double cream instead  crème fraiche  was very sour)
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper (optional)
  • 1 bird eye chili (optional)
  • salt for taste 
  • 15 grams of fresh dill for garnish
  • 15 grams of fresh  flat leaf parsley for garnish
Reci. pe:

  1. put 1 LT water to a large Pam and bring it to boil 
  2. chop the mushrooms and dice the onions 
  3. wash and finely chop the dill and parsley and set aside 
  4. add the olive oil and onions to a nonstick pot, stir and cook until they are brown
  5. add the mushrooms and let it cook until the mushrooms loose their juice 
  6. when the water started the boil add some salt and the dry pasta with the help of a fork twist the pasta into the water
  7. let it cook for 5-8 mins and check it to see if it is done you want it to be cooked al dente 
  8. drain the pasta and set aside
  9. add the cremè   fraiche  or double cream to the mushrooms  and let it boil for 3-5 minutes 
  10. add black peppers and chili to  the sauce
  11. add the pasta into the mushroom sauce and mix let it boil with the sauce for 15 -30 seconds 
  12. boil or steam asparagus until tender, i boiled them for 2-3 mins
  13. serve the pasta in mushroom sauce and place asparagus on top and sprinkle some  dill and parsley

Ingredients chestnut mushrooms, button mushrooms, asparagus, crème fraiche, onion, garlic, dill, flat leaf parsley

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