Creamy Bacon and Mushroom Fettuccine
'Fettuccine Boscaiola'
Growing up my mother cooked a lot of tomato based dishes as my father was not a huge fan of creamy sauces. So when I would go out to restaurants this is what I ordered, and I mean regularly.
I love a boscaiola sauce, it is truly one of my favourite things to eat, still. Now my husband also does not like creamy sauces, crazy I say, but thank goodness my kids love it, like I do. So creamy based dishes get cooked on days when my husband is not home or I have made something for him that the kids don't really like. It is rare I make two dinners, but every now and then I do.
And why would I cook two dinners, because this is so easy to make. When the pasta is cooked, so is your sauce. This is so fast to make, and tastes so good, you really do have dinner on the table in 20 minutes, with very little effort, but a great end result.
Now here I have made it with fettuccine, but feel free to cook it with spaghetti, tagliatelle, penne or tortellini whatever you like.
If you like a more intense mushroom flavour, use Swiss brown mushrooms.
You can substitute 4 green onions instead of the brown onion.
You can use normal bacon, but I prefer streaky. I would also try it with pancetta, though I feel the flavour would be stronger.
So if you are looking for quick, tasty mid week meal, look no further, this is so good.
I love a boscaiola sauce, it is truly one of my favourite things to eat, still. Now my husband also does not like creamy sauces, crazy I say, but thank goodness my kids love it, like I do. So creamy based dishes get cooked on days when my husband is not home or I have made something for him that the kids don't really like. It is rare I make two dinners, but every now and then I do.
And why would I cook two dinners, because this is so easy to make. When the pasta is cooked, so is your sauce. This is so fast to make, and tastes so good, you really do have dinner on the table in 20 minutes, with very little effort, but a great end result.
Now here I have made it with fettuccine, but feel free to cook it with spaghetti, tagliatelle, penne or tortellini whatever you like.
If you like a more intense mushroom flavour, use Swiss brown mushrooms.
You can substitute 4 green onions instead of the brown onion.
You can use normal bacon, but I prefer streaky. I would also try it with pancetta, though I feel the flavour would be stronger.
So if you are looking for quick, tasty mid week meal, look no further, this is so good.
Recipe
Serves 6
400g fettuccine
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
250g streaky bacon, chopped
1 small brown onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
200g button mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup (60ml) white wine
1/2 teaspoon chicken stock powder
600ml thickened cream
2 tablespoons finely grated parmesan cheese
Salt and white pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons chopped chives, optional, to serve
Freshly grated parmesan, for serving
Add water to a large saucepan, season the water with a teaspoon of salt. Bring to the boil.
Start the sauce: Heat the oil in a large frying pan, add the bacon and fry for 3 minutes. Add onion, sauté for 3 minutes. Add the garlic, sauté for one minute. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring for 3-4 minutes or until the mushrooms soften.
Add the wine, simmer until it reduces by half.
Add the pasta to the boiling water, stir it until the water comes back to the boil, the stirring stops the pasta sticking together. Cook the pasta following the packet directions.
To the bacon mixture add the cream, chicken stock powder and a little salt and white pepper, to taste. Bring to a simmer and cook for 6-8 minutes or until the sauce reduces and thickens slightly. Once cooked, add the parmesan cheese, stir through, taste for seasoning.
Once the pasta is cooked, reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, drain the rest.
To serve, spoon the hot sauce over the hot pasta, toss to combine. If the sauce is too thick add some of the reserved pasta water. Sprinkle with some freshly chopped chives, if you like and top with grated parmesan cheese, if desired.
400g fettuccine
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
250g streaky bacon, chopped
1 small brown onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
200g button mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup (60ml) white wine
1/2 teaspoon chicken stock powder
600ml thickened cream
2 tablespoons finely grated parmesan cheese
Salt and white pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons chopped chives, optional, to serve
Freshly grated parmesan, for serving
Add water to a large saucepan, season the water with a teaspoon of salt. Bring to the boil.
Start the sauce: Heat the oil in a large frying pan, add the bacon and fry for 3 minutes. Add onion, sauté for 3 minutes. Add the garlic, sauté for one minute. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring for 3-4 minutes or until the mushrooms soften.
Add the wine, simmer until it reduces by half.
Add the pasta to the boiling water, stir it until the water comes back to the boil, the stirring stops the pasta sticking together. Cook the pasta following the packet directions.
To the bacon mixture add the cream, chicken stock powder and a little salt and white pepper, to taste. Bring to a simmer and cook for 6-8 minutes or until the sauce reduces and thickens slightly. Once cooked, add the parmesan cheese, stir through, taste for seasoning.
Once the pasta is cooked, reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, drain the rest.
To serve, spoon the hot sauce over the hot pasta, toss to combine. If the sauce is too thick add some of the reserved pasta water. Sprinkle with some freshly chopped chives, if you like and top with grated parmesan cheese, if desired.
Enjoy!