Untested: Spaghetti with Mushroom and Tomato Sauce (Quick Mushroom Ragu)

By NicoleS

Using pancetta and its fat in our Spaghetti with Mushroom and Tomato Sauce recipe compensated for the lean nature of the mushrooms and made our mushroom ragu meatier. Portobello mushrooms gave our dish bulk, while smoky porcini gave it concentrated flavor. Adding tomato paste and fresh crushed tomatoes to our mushrooms after they’d browned sweetened our sauce but also let the mushrooms shine through.

Ingredients

• 1ounce1 ounce dried porcini mushrooms, rinsed well
• 1cup1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 4ounces4 ounces pancetta, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/2pound1/2 pound portobello mushrooms (2 large), stems and gills removed and discarded, caps cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 1 1/2 cups) (Use a spoon to scrape the dark brown gills from the portobellos.)
• 3tablespoons3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 4medium4 medium garlic cloves, peeled and sliced thin
• 1tablespoon1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 2teaspoons2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary leaves
• 1(14.5-ounce) can1 (14.5-ounce) can whole tomatoes, roughly crushed by hand
• Table salt and ground black pepper
• 1pound1 pound spaghetti
• Grated Pecorino Romano, for serving

Preparation

Step 1

1. Place porcini and broth in small microwave-safe bowl; cover with plastic wrap and cut several steam vents in plastic with paring knife. Microwave on high power 1 minute, until broth is steaming. Let stand until mushrooms soften, about 10 minutes. Lift mushrooms from broth with fork and finely chop. Strain broth through fine-mesh strainer lined with large coffee filter into medium bowl. Set aside mushrooms and broth.


2. Heat pancetta in 12-inch skillet over medium heat; cook, stirring occasionally, until rendered and crisp, 7 to 10 minutes. Add portobellos, chopped porcini, olive oil, garlic, tomato paste, and rosemary; cook, stirring occasionally, until all liquid has evaporated and tomato paste starts to brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Add reserved chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, and their juices; increase heat to high and bring to simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until thickened, 15 to 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.


3. While sauce simmers, bring 4 quarts water to boil in large Dutch oven. Add 1 tablespoon salt and pasta; cook until al dente. Drain pasta, reserving ½ cup cooking water, and return to pot. Add sauce to pasta and toss to combine. Adjust consistency with reserved pasta water and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve, passing Pecorino separately.