This Mushroom, Leek and Chestnut Parpadellle recipe celebrates everything about seasonal produce in October.
Seasonal recipes
During the month of October, leeks, wild mushrooms and chestnuts are in season in the UK. They're therefore the perfect combination of ingredients to use in a recipe that celebrates autumn.
When making seasonal vegetables the star of the show it's important to keep the sauce simple. To that end, I've simple used vegan cream, garlic, thyme and vegan parmesan for a white sauce which greedily coats the parpadelle pasta. This rich sauce allows the wilted slices of leek, mushroom and chestnut to cling to each mouthful of pasta.
The perfect pasta for the sauce
Parpadelle is one of my favourite varieties of pasta because its large surface area means more sauce coverage! You could use a tagliatelle or even a fettucine but for me parpadelle is the ideal partner for the thinly sliced vegetables in this dish.
The balance of pasta, sauce and veggies in this dish means that its a real hearty dinner. The creamy sauce is light yet rich and the mushrooms and chestnuts give the dish a real earthy flavour making this the perfect meal for October when we are moving from the last moments of summer into autumn. It also works equally well with a side salad for warmer evenings or comforting garlic bread as we get deeper in autumn.
The recipe
Whether you grow your own veg, forage for mushrooms or simply buy your ingredients at the store, the ingredients for this recipe are at their best in the month of October. Enjoy this recipe during the autumn months.
Mushroom, Leek and Chestnut Parpadelle
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon vegan butter
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 leek
- 8 mushrooms
- 200 g chestnuts pre-cooked
- 3 cloves garlic
- 300 ml vegan cream
- 100 g vegan parmesan
- 1 pinch black pepper
- 400 g parpadelle
- 1 sprig thyme
Instructions
- Begin by melting the butter in a large flat bottomed pan with a little oil.
- Thinly slice the leeks, add to the pan and stir until the leeks are completely coated in the butter.
- Next, add the mushrooms and chestnuts to the pan, also thinly sliced and cook for 5 - 8 minutes until the mushrooms and leeks are tender and wilted.
- Add the garlic to the pan and cook for a further five minutes.
- Pour over the cream, stir in the parmesan and heat on low.
- Put the pasta into a large saucepan and cover with boiling water. Cook for 10 minutes until al dente.
- Drain the pasta and transfer to the pan with the cream sauce.
- Stir through so that the sauce completely coats the pasta.
- remove the leaves from your sprig of thyme, add to the sauce and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Serve hot.
Nutrition
More pasta recipes
More recipes perfect for autumn produce
Claire @foodiequine says
Love the sound of this. I make a LOT of pasta dishes but never get round to blogging them. Shall try and rectify this month and link up.
Emma Walton says
Definitely do Claire! I'd not posted any pasta dishes in ages either. They arent the easiest to photograph or style!
Jemma @ Celery and Cupcakes says
I love pappardelle pasta and the way the sauce clings to it. This looks delicious!
Emma Walton says
Thanks Jemma. Great minds think alike!
Penelope says
I'm another pappardelle fan, this sounds so lovely and my husband is peering over my shoulder telling me just how much he likes the sound of it too!
Emma Walton says
Thanks Penelope! I'm glad you both like it! My OH went not only for second but thirds too! A shame really as we were going to have leftovers for tea tonight haha. A victim of my own success 🙂
Sarah James says
What a great parpadelle recipe Emma, looking forward to trying this when the chestnuts are ready, might even be lucky enough to find some mushrooms too.
Emma Walton says
Thanks Sarah! I have not been brave enough to go mushroom foraging yet. I keep meaning to book myself on to a course. Would love to see photos if you do make it 🙂