Pasta with rich mushroom ragout

Rich and earthy, this creamy pasta feels appropriate for date night, but comes together quickly enough for a weeknight. Whereas a classic Italian meat ragout may bubble away all afternoon so that the meat can tenderize along with aromatics, this mushroom ragout recipe can accommodate a tight weeknight schedule. A satisfying meat-free recipe for the vegetarian sceptic.

Ingredients

300g pasta

600g mushrooms

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 onion chopped

3 cloves garlic minced

1/2 cup red wine

1 cup good quality pasta sauce or passata

2 tablespoons tomato paste

2 to 3 teaspoons Dijon mustard (start with 2, taste and add more to taste)

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 cup cream

Salt & pepper to taste

Freshly grated parmesan cheese optional, to taste

Method

• Finely chop mushrooms, or place in a food processor and pulse, being careful not to over-process as the mushrooms will reduce on cooking. Set aside.

• Sauté the garlic and onions with a drizzle of olive oil in a large frypan with high sides on medium heat. Sauté until the onions become transparent.

• Add the mushrooms and stir. Once the mushrooms are partially cooked (5 minutes) add the red wine and allow to simmer for 5 minutes or until the liquid has reduced by half.

• Add the tomato paste, dried oregano, dried basil and Dijon mustard and stir through for a couple of minutes.

• Follow by adding the passata and a good pinch of sea salt. Allow to simmer for 15-18 minutes so the flavours develop, and the sauce thickens.

• Add in cream, stir and cook for another few minutes.

• While the sauce is cooking, boil salted water in a large pot. Add the dried pasta and follow the pack instructions for cooking time.

• Once the pasta is al dente, drain in a colander, reserving 2 tbsp of the pasta water.

• Add the pasta to the saucepan and gently stir to coat through the sauce. If the pasta sauce is too thick, add the reserved pasta water and stir through.

• Serve with shaved parmesan cheese and freshly cracked pepper.