Fettuccine With Mushrooms Recipe 445

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium heat. Salt the water, add the pasta and cook to al dente. Heads up: Remove and reserve 1 cup of cooking water just before draining.
• Heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and saute until deeply browned and tender, 12 to 15 minutes, adding the garlic, thyme, and sage midway through the cooking. Season the mushrooms with salt and pepper, to taste, and a little freshly grated nutmeg. Deglaze the pan with the Marsala and stir for 30 seconds. Stir in the cream, (or if you prefer, top the pasta with a dollop of ricotta at serving time). Stir in the reserved pasta cooking water, about 1 cup if using ricotta, and just enough to thin out the sauce to your liking if using cream.
• Drain the pasta and toss with sauce, parsley, and cheese. Transfer the pasta to a serving bowls and top each with a dollop of ricotta, if using, for mixing into the fettuccine as you eat.

Steps:

• Soak porcini in cup of boiling water 30 minutes. Trim stalks from the fresh mushrooms, wash off grit under cold running water and slice into one-and-a-half-inch pieces.
• Using a large skillet, soften the garlic and the shallots in two tablespoons butter and oil. Meanwhile, bring six quarts salted water to a boil.
• Strain the porcini through a paper towel, reserving the soaking liquid. Chop the porcini and add them to the skillet with the thyme, salt and pepper and white wine. Cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes. Add the porcini cooking liquid and continue to cook over moderate heat until it has almost evaporated.
• Meanwhile, cook the fettuccine until al dente. Drain and toss in a heated bowl with the remaining tablespoon butter (you could use truffle oil instead).
• Over moderate heat, stir the creme fraiche into the mushrooms. Correct seasoning and pour them over the fettuccine. Toss, sprinkle with parsley and serve. Pass the cheese separately.