Pasta perfection

Returning home during the weekend, I being the regular cook, always seek to please the whole family. This recipe has taken me quite some time to develop, but I'm pretty sure I have almost perfected it to everyone's flavour. This dish requires some time as it involves a really delicious home-made mushroom. It starts like all Italian recipes, with sautéing an onion and some cloves of garlic in a bit of good quality olive oil. Add the zest of one lemon, a few finely chopped anchovies filets and a pinch of dried chili flakes. Don't be afraid of using a strong fish like anchovies, it is merely a seasoning and will incorporate beautifully into the sauce. It will add that umami flavour and make the sauce more complex. When the onion is sweet and softened add the mushrooms and cream. I always prefer a blend of mushrooms, some shiitake and chestnut mushrooms. After the sauce has come to a boil turn down the heat and add the broccoli, cut into little florets, and slices of bell pepper. Meanwhile cook the pasta for 8 minutes al dented in some pre-cooked and salted water. Remember the water should always be salted like the sea! Be pasta will not absorb all the salt, don't worry. After the pasta is done add it to the sauce along with one cup of the cooking water. This will create a beautiful sauce as the starch in the water will make the sauce stick to the pasta. Finally toast some pine nuts. Keep a really close look because they tend to blacken within seconds if you don't pay close attention (no joke). Use this as a garnish along with some freshly grated parmesan cheese, basil and a touch the sea salt. This dish is (nearly) vegetarian but you won't miss it, promised! The mushrooms and pine nuts are an excellent substitute. And the parmesan gives it that extra bit decadent texture. If I don't spoil my family with dish they have grown too picky!

Ingredients: Tagaliatelle , broccoli, bell pepper, mixed mushrooms, low-fat cream onion, garlic, anchovies, pine nuts, parmesan cheese, basil, chili flakes, lemon zestTekst hier invullen...