Pasta With Leeks And Mushrooms Recipes

CREAMY MUSHROOM AND LEEK PASTA

Steps:

• Cut off the root hairs and most of your green stems. Keep the stems for making stock. This part is edible when you cook it for longer periods of time.
• Cut your leeks in half lengthwise and then half each stock again so you have 4 long quarters. Finley slice the leeks and rinse in cold water to get rid of any dirt in the leek (leeks hide dirt very well). Drain well.
• Heat a large pan over medium/high heat. Add 2 Tbsp olive oil and the finely chopped leeks. Saute 2 minutes.
• Cut mushrooms in half if they are small and into quarters if they are larger. Add halved/sliced mushrooms and 3 pressed garlic cloves. Saute uncovered, stirring often for 8 minutes or until mushrooms are soft.
• Stir in 1/2 cup chicken broth and 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream.
• Add 2 Tbsp chopped dill, 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste) and 1/8 tsp pepper. Simmer uncovered another 5 minutes for the sauce to thicken up a little.
• Pour over your favorite cooked pasta. This would work over just about any noodles. I served it over angel hair pasta (my favorite). Sprinkle with parmesan if you like :)

LEEK AND MUSHROOM PASTA

Steps:

• Prepare pasta according to package instructions. Once cooked, reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta water. Drain the rest and set both pasta water and pasta aside.
• Add the olive oil to a large skillet and warm over a medium heat. Add the leeks, mushrooms and a pinch of salt. Cook 5-7 minutes to soften.
• Add the garlic and cook another 3-4 minutes. Stir often to keep the garlic from burning. Turn off the heat until you're ready to add the pasta.
• Add the pasta to the mushroom-leek mixture along with 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon red chili flakes, chopped parsley, chili flakes (if using) and reserved pasta water. Mix well making sure to evenly coat the pasta with sauce.
• Taste with additional salt, chili and parsley as needed and enjoy.

CREAMY ONE-POT MUSHROOM AND LEEK PASTA

Steps:

• Heat a wide, deep 12-inch skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high. When hot, add the olive oil and leeks, reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring constantly, until softened and lightly golden, 5 minutes.
• Stir in the garlic and mushrooms. Cook, undisturbed, for 2 minutes, then stir and cook, undisturbed, until the mushrooms start to caramelize and stick to the bottom of the pan, another 2 to 3 minutes. (This allows the water from the mushrooms to evaporate, encouraging caramelization.) Add the juice of one lemon half to deglaze the pan and stir to combine.
• Add the pasta and stock; stir well. Cover with lid and cook on medium heat. Begin tasting pasta 10 minutes after you add it. (All pasta shapes and brands will have different cooking times. You want the pasta to be just tender.)
• Once the pasta is cooked, turn off the heat and add the butter and parsley. Squeeze in the juice from the remaining lemon half and stir until butter is melted and dispersed. Season with salt and pepper.
• To serve, top with ricotta, red-pepper flakes (to taste) and more chopped parsley.

PASTA WITH LEEKS AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Trim root end of leeks, then cut off hard green leaves, leaving a bit of green where they meet the white part. Split leeks down the middle, then chop them, not too finely. Wash very well, and spin or shake dry. Set a large pot of water to boil, and salt it.
• Put half the butter or oil in a large skillet, and turn heat to medium-high. A minute later add garlic and chilies, and cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic browns; remove chilies (and garlic if you prefer). Add leeks, and cook, stirring occasionally, until they wilt, about 10 minutes. Add pepper or tomato, and mushrooms, lower heat; continue to cook, stirring once in a while, until leeks begin to brown.
• Cook pasta until tender but not mushy. When it's done, drain it, reserving about ½ cup cooking liquid. Toss pasta and leeks together with remaining butter or oil, a few sprinklings of black pepper and all but a little of the parsley, adding a bit of cooking liquid if mixture seems dry. Taste and adjust seasoning, garnish with remaining parsley, and serve.