Easy Vegetarian Pasta Amatriciana Recipe - Amazing Substitute for Guanciale!

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated pecorino

Nutritional yeast adds a cheesy flavor with fewer calories.

vegetarian bacon

🥗Healthier: smoked tempeh

💰Cheaper: mushrooms

Mushrooms provide umami flavor at a lower cost.

Add olive oil to a large skillet set over medium heat until shimmering.

Add sliced shitake mushrooms and season with salt.

Cook the mushrooms, stirring frequently, until they reduce in size and become very crispy and brown, about 15 minutes.

Remove the browned mushrooms from the skillet and set aside.

Cook the pasta according to package instructions.

In the same skillet, add chili flakes and tomato paste; cook while stirring constantly for about 2 minutes.

Pour in dry white wine over the chili and tomato paste mixture; stir and cook until well combined and the wine has reduced significantly.

Add crushed canned tomatoes to the skillet, crushing whole peeled tomatoes by hand for better texture.

Increase heat to medium-high and bring the sauce to a simmer while the pasta cooks.

Once the pasta is cooked, reserve some pasta water and transfer the pasta into the skillet using tongs.

Toss the pasta in the sauce until well coated, adding reserved pasta water if needed to adjust the consistency.

Add grated pecarino Romano cheese and toss until the sauce thickens and becomes cohesive, about 1-2 minutes.

Top the pasta with the crispy mushrooms and season generously with black pepper and more salt; toss to incorporate.

Serve immediately, topping with more cheese.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens