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Spaghetti with Mushroom Wine Sauce

This is a rich and hearty sauce, so any shape of whole grain pasta would work well. You can increase the amount of crimini mushrooms if desired.

What you need

  1. 3/4 lb whole grain spaghetti or pasta of your choice
  2. 1/4 oz. dried porcini soaked in 1 cup hot water until soft
  3. water from soaking porcini
  4. 1-2 slices bacon or rendered bacon fat (optional)
  5. 8 kalamata olives, pitted and chopped
  6. 1/3 lb or more crimini mushrooms, chopped
  7. 1/2 medium onion, minced
  8. 2 garlic cloves, minced
  9. 1 tbl tomato paste
  10. 1 tbl + 1 tsp minced fresh oregano leaves
  11. 1 cup syrah or any good dry red wine
  12. Grated cheese for serving (optional)
  13. Kosher salt

How to make it

  1. If using bacon, render fat slowly and set aside crispy pieces
  2. Strain porcini pieces from soaking water (reserve water) and chop
  3. Heat fat or olive oil in a large sauté pan and add onion
  4. When onion has softened, add chopped crimini mushrooms
  5. Cook pasta in salted water until slightly underdone, reserve some pasta cooking liquid in case you need it to finish the sauce - drain pasta
  6. When mushrooms have browned and moisture has evaporated, add garlic, chopped porcini and olives
  7. Add tomato paste and stir to coat vegetables
  8. Add mushroom water carefully, leaving any silt in the cup
  9. Add wine and 1 tbl oregano
  10. Simmer for 15-20 minutes over low heat
  11. Add cooked pasta and mix, continue cooking for several minutes for pasta to absorb the sauce
  12. Top with 1 tsp chopped fresh oregano and crispy bacon pieces (if using) and serve hot with grated cheese on the side

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