Ingredients needed
Olive oil and butter. Mushrooms. Using a variety of mushrooms adds textural and flavor interest but feel free to use any mushrooms of your choice. Button mushrooms, portobello mushrooms, cremini, shiitake, oyster, etc. Onion. Fresh garlic cloves. Dried oregano. Flour. Milk. Cream. Heavy cream or whipping cream. Fresh lemon juice. Salt and black pepper. Cheese: I used cheddar, gruyere, mozzarella and parmesan but gouda, Colby, Monterey Jack, Swiss cheese, etc will all be delicious. Pasta. I used fusilli but any short pasta shape will work. Penne, macaroni and rigatoni are good options.
How to make mushroom pasta bake
Make the creamy mushroom sauce by sautéing the onion and garlic in a splash of olive oil until soft (approximately 2 minutes) then add the mushrooms and the oregano. The mushrooms will likely release a bit of moisture. Allow to cook for 5 minutes then add a knob of butter and stir in the flour. Cook the flour for a minute then pour in the milk and cream. Season with lemon juice, salt and pepper then allow to simmer for 5-10 minutes until the sauce has thickened and the flour has cooked out. Add a pound (1kg) of cooked pasta to the sauce (boil the pasta in a large pot of salted water before draining) and add a few tablespoons of the pasta cooking water. Stir in half of the grated cheese mixture. Transfer half of the pasta and sauce to a suitable casserole dish or baking dish. Add the remaining grated cheese then add the rest of the pasta. Top with extra grated Parmesan cheese then place in the oven and allow to bake for 10-15 minutes until golden brown and bubbling. Remove from the oven and scatter over chopped parsley (optional), then serve.
Can I make this ahead?
Pasta bakes are great to prepare ahead as they freeze well. Assemble the dish as instructed in a foil baking dish (which makes it great for freezing) then cover with a sheet of parchment paper and wrap with plastic wrap or foil. Freeze for up to 3 months and bake from frozen. Any leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in a hot oven or microwave oven.
What to serve with pasta bake
Baked pasta dishes are great served as is, as a simple meal. However, if you want to add side dishes, a zesty salad is a great addition.
Mushroom pasta recipes
