Creamy Tomato
Mushroom Spaghetti
This comforting pasta dish features a rich, milky tomato sauce loaded with earthy shiitake mushrooms and savory minced pork. Quick to make and perfectly seasoned, it is a cozy weeknight meal.
Combining the tangy brightness of tomatoes with the earthy depth of shiitake mushrooms, this creamy spaghetti is a delightful fusion of flavors. The addition of milk or heavy cream creates a luscious, velvety sauce that perfectly coats every strand of pasta.
Ingredients
- 200 g spaghetti noodles
- 150 g minced pork
- 2 medium tomatoes
- 100 g fresh shiitake mushrooms
- 1/2 red onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup milk or heavy whipping cream
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
- to taste hard cheese
- optional fresh rosemary leaves
Instructions
- 1Boil the spaghetti
Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil and add saltcite: 1. Place the spaghetti noodles into the boiling water and cook them until they are donecite: 1.
Tip: Adding salt to the boiling water seasons the pasta from the inside outcite: 1. - 2Stir-fry the minced pork
Pour a small amount of olive oil into a preheated pan, add the minced pork, and stir-fry continuously until the pork is fully cooked and begins to release its natural oils.
Tip: Stir-fry over medium heat to ensure the pork browns evenly without burning. - 3Sauté aromatics with pork
Add butter, minced garlic, and diced red onion to the pan with the cooked minced porkcite: 1. Stir-fry the mixture together until it becomes highly fragrantcite: 1.
Tip: Wait until the pork has released its oils before adding the butter to prevent burningcite: 1. - 4Add shiitake mushrooms
Once the aromatics are fragrant, add the sliced fresh shiitake mushrooms into the pancite: 1. Continue to stir-fry the mixture until the mushrooms release their aromacite: 1.
Tip: Fresh shiitake mushrooms will absorb the flavors of the butter and pork fat as they cook downcite: 1. - 5Stir in diced tomatoes
After the mushrooms have released their aroma, add the diced tomatoes to the pancite: 1. You can also add some ketchup at this stage to increase the sweet and sour flavor profilecite: 1.
Tip: Adding a few ladles of pasta cooking water will help cook the tomatoes down into a rich saucecite: 1. - 6Simmer the sauce
Pour 3 ladles of hot pasta cooking water directly into the pan to create a rich base. Cover the pan with a lid and let the sauce simmer until the diced tomatoes break down completely.
Tip: Using pasta cooking water adds starches that help emulsify and thicken the sauce. - 7Add and toss spaghetti
Transfer the cooked spaghetti directly into the simmering tomato and pork sauce, and use tongs to toss the noodles evenly so they absorb the rich flavors.
Tip: Add the pasta straight from the boiling water while it is still hot for better sauce absorption. - 8Pour in milk or cream
Pour a generous amount of milk or heavy whipping cream directly into the pasta and sauce mixture to give the dish a creamy, milky consistency.
Tip: Pour gradually while stirring gently to blend the cream smoothly into the tomato base. - 9Season with black pepper
Sprinkle a generous amount of ground black pepper over the creamy pasta mixture and toss everything together thoroughly to enhance the overall flavor profile.
Tip: Freshly cracked black pepper provides the best aroma and spicy kick. - 10Grate hard cheese on top
Freshly grate hard cheese directly over the top of the pasta dish to enhance the flavor and create a rich, savory finish.
Tip: Grate the cheese finely so it melts smoothly into the hot pasta.
