Description

This creamy mushroom and spinach pasta is a delicious and comforting vegetarian dish perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. Sautéed mushrooms and onions are combined with garlic, low-fat crème fraîche, and parmesan to create a luscious sauce tossed with tender tagliatelle and fresh baby spinach. A hint of chili flakes adds a subtle kick to balance the creaminess.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Sauce

2 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
150g baby mushrooms, halved
2 garlic cloves, crushed
200g low-fat crème fraîche
15g parmesan or vegetarian alternative, grated
120g baby spinach
½ tsp chilli flakes (optional)

Pasta

150g tagliatelle

Instructions

Sauté Onion and Mushrooms: Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and halved baby mushrooms. Fry for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft and the mushrooms have browned slightly.
Cook Pasta: While the mushrooms and onions cook, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the tagliatelle according to the package instructions until al dente.
Add Garlic and Cream Base: Add the crushed garlic to the pan with the mushrooms and onions. Cook for an additional 2 minutes, stirring to combine and release the flavors.
Combine Cream and Cheese: Pour in the low-fat crème fraîche and sprinkle in the grated parmesan. Stir well to create a creamy sauce, then add the baby spinach leaves. Stir to mix, then remove from heat and set aside.
Drain Pasta and Reserve Water: Once the pasta is cooked, drain it thoroughly, reserving about 25ml of the pasta cooking water.
Toss Pasta in Sauce: Add the drained pasta back into the saucepan with the creamy mushroom sauce. Return to low heat and cook gently for about 5 minutes until the spinach wilts and the flavors meld together. If needed, pour in reserved pasta water gradually to loosen the sauce to your desired consistency.
Season and Serve: Season with freshly ground black pepper to taste. Finish by sprinkling chilli flakes if you want a little heat. Serve immediately for a warm, comforting meal.

Notes

For a vegan version, substitute crème fraîche and parmesan with dairy-free alternatives.
Reserve pasta water is useful to adjust sauce consistency without thinning flavor.
Feel free to add other herbs like thyme or parsley for extra freshness.
Use a vegetarian parmesan alternative to keep the dish vegetarian.
If you prefer less spice, omit the chilli flakes.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian

Keywords: creamy mushroom pasta, spinach pasta, vegetarian pasta recipe, quick pasta dinner, easy stovetop pasta