Pasta with Mushrooms and Speck

I’ll show you a classic Italian recipe for preparing 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 pasta (penne, fusilli or spaghetti)
• 250g mushrooms (button, porcini or mixed)
• 100g speck cut into strips
• 1 garlic clove
• Extra virgin olive oil (to taste)
• Salt and pepper (to taste)
• Chopped parsley (for garnish)
• Grated Parmesan (optional, for garnish)
• 1 glass of white wine (optional)
• Cooking cream (optional, for a creamier version)

Preparation

1. Clean the mushrooms with a damp cloth or brush, slice them and set aside.
2. Cook the pasta in plenty of salted water according to the package instructions.
3. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and add the whole garlic clove (which you’ll remove later) to flavor the oil.
4. Add the speck cut into strips and let it brown until 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.
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 skillet with the mushrooms and speck. If desired, add a bit of cooking cream to make the sauce creamier.
8. Mix well over medium heat to coat the pasta with the sauce.
9. Serve hot, garnished with fresh chopped parsley (and grated Parmesan, if desired).

Fun Facts

Speck is a cured meat typical of Northern Italy, particularly Trentino-Alto Adige. Its smoking process gives dishes a distinctive flavor that pairs perfectly with the aroma of mushrooms.

You can customize this recipe to your taste and available ingredients. If you need suggestions or substitutions, I’m here to help!