Pasta with Mushrooms and Speck

I’ll show you a classic Italian recipe to prepare pasta with mushrooms and speck. Note that if you don’t have all the ingredients, I can suggest alternatives. Here’s how to prepare this delicious dish.

Ingredients

• 320g of pasta (penne, fusilli or spaghetti)
• 250g of mushrooms (champignons, porcini, or mixed)
• 100g of speck, cut into strips
• 1 clove of garlic
• Extra virgin olive oil (to taste)
• Salt and pepper (to taste)
• Chopped parsley (for garnish)
• Grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for garnish)
• 1 glass of white wine (optional)
• Cooking cream (optional, for a creamier variant)

Preparation

1. Clean the mushrooms with a damp cloth or a brush, slice them and set them aside.
2. Cook the pasta in plenty of salted water following the timing on the package.
3. Meanwhile, in a large pan, heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and add the whole garlic clove (which you will remove later) to flavor the oil.
4. Add the speck strips and let them brown until they become crispy.
5. Remove the garlic and add the sliced mushrooms. Cook over medium-high heat for about 5-7 minutes, until the mushrooms are golden brown.
6. (Optional) Deglaze with a glass of white wine and let the alcohol evaporate.
7. Drain the pasta al dente and transfer it to the pan with the mushrooms and speck. If you wish, you can add some cooking cream to make the dressing creamier.
8. Stir well over medium heat to flavor the pasta with the sauce.
9. Serve hot, garnished with fresh chopped parsley (and grated Parmesan, if desired).

Trivia

Speck is a type of cured meat typical of Northern Italy, particularly from Trentino-Alto Adige. Its smoking process gives a unique flavor to the dishes where it is used, and it pairs perfectly with the aroma of mushrooms.

You can customize this recipe according to your tastes and the ingredients you have available. If you need suggestions or substitutions, I am here to help!