How to Make Creamy Mushroom Pasta | White Sauce Penne Pasta Recipe | Cheesy White Sauce Pasta Recipe

heavy cream

🥗Healthier: Greek yogurt

💰Cheaper: milk + cornstarch

Greek yogurt reduces calories while maintaining creaminess

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated pecorino

Nutritional yeast is dairy-free and adds a cheesy flavor.

fresh parsley

🥗Healthier: spinach

💰Cheaper: dried herbs

Spinach adds nutrients while dried herbs are more economical.

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: canola oil

Avocado oil has a higher smoke point and is heart-healthy.

Slice the onion thinly.

Cut the baby carrots into quarters or matchsticks if using whole carrots.

Smash and finely chop the garlic.

Wipe off excess dirt from the white button mushrooms and slice them thinly, about a third to a quarter of an inch thick.

Prepare a bechamel sauce by sautéing equal parts butter and flour to form a roux, then add milk and bring to a simmer, stirring to remove lumps and season with salt, pepper, and fresh nutmeg until it coats the back of a spoon.

Heat a pan on medium heat and add olive oil (or butter).

Add the sliced onions and carrots to the pan and sauté until soft, adding a pinch of salt to help them soften faster.

Bring water to a boil for the pasta, season with salt, and add penne pasta once boiling.

Add minced garlic to the sautéing vegetables and cook briefly to remove rawness.

Add sliced mushrooms to the pan and cook until they lose most of their water and reduce by half in volume, then season with salt and pepper.

Transfer the cooked vegetables to a bowl and set aside, reserving about half a cup of pasta water.

Drain the pasta and add it to the prepared bechamel sauce, bringing it back to a simmer.

Add the sautéed vegetables to the pasta and sauce, mixing well to combine.

Adjust the sauce's consistency with reserved pasta water if desired.

Add mozzarella cheese to the pasta and turn off the heat, letting the cheese melt from residual heat.

Plate the pasta and top with parmesan cheese and additional black pepper if needed.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens