Mushroom Penne with Crème Fraîche
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Total: 25 mins
A super seasonal pasta dish that stirs tender wholewheat penne through a creamy crème fraîche sauce, fragrantly flavoured with rosemary, garlic and chilli, and brimming with an earthy mix of fresh mushrooms and dried wild porcini.
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496 kcal
(per portion)
Ingredients you'll need
  • 12g dried porcini mushrooms
  • 1 onion
  • 400g wonky mushrooms
  • 200g wholewheat penne
  • 1 garlic clove
  • A handful of rosemary
  • 4 tbsp half fat créme fraîche
  • A pinch of chilli flakes
  • 50g watercress
From your kitchen
  • 150ml boiling water
  • ½ tbsp olive oil
  • Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
You'll need
  • Measuring jug
  • Large frying pan
  • Large pan with lid
Step by step this way
  • 1.

    Fill and boil your kettle. Pop the dried porcini into a heatproof jug and pour over enough water to just cover them. Leave to soak for 5 mins, then drain the porcini and tip them back into the jug. Pour in 150ml hot water from the kettle and set the porcini aside to soak for 2-3 mins.

  • 2.

    While the porcini soak, peel and finely chop the onion. Rinse the fresh mushrooms and tear them into bite-sized pieces.

  • 3.

    Place a large frying pan on a medium heat and add ½ tbsp olive oil, the onion and mushrooms. Scoop the porcini out of the jug (keep the soaking water) and add them to the pan. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Fry for 8 mins, stirring often, till softened and lightly coloured.

  • 4.

    Meanwhile, pour the hot water from the kettle into a large pan, topping it up if necessary. Add a pinch of salt and bring the water back to the boil. Tip in the penne and cook for 8-10 mins till the pasta is al dente (soft with a slight bite).

  • 5.

    Peel and grate or crush the garlic. Finely chop the rosemary leaves. When the veg have fried for 8 mins, add the garlic and rosemary to the pan. Cook and stir for 2 mins. Meanwhile, drain the pasta if you haven't already, and set it to one side.

  • 6.

    Pour the porcini water into the pan and add 4 tbsp crème fraîche. Turn the heat down to low and very gently warm through for 1-2 mins. Tip in the pasta, add a pinch of dried chilli flakes (they're hot, so use as much or as little as you prefer) and gently toss to mix.

  • 7.

    Taste the pasta and add more salt, pepper or chilli flakes if you think it needs them. Serve the mushroom pasta in a couple of warm bowls, topped with handfuls of watercress.

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