A porcini pasta recipe from Tuscany.
The deliciousness of pasta with porcini mushrooms can only be understood by those who have had the pleasure of eating it. This tagliatelle with porcini is an Italian classic that's really easy to make. You just need some good quality porcini, wine, garlic, wild mint or thyme. So, definitely worth going mushroom hunting for (even in your local supermarket!).

Le tagliatelle ai funghi porcini.
I will never forget the first time my hubby took me mushroom hunting in the woods and we found a beautiful large porcini mushroom! My excitement was truly childlike! I was expecting to take it home to cook but my hubby insisted we eat it raw, there in the woods! All I can say is Amazing with a capital A!
Mushroom hunting in Italy.
Here in Italy, mushroom picking is a popular pastime. In late summer/early autumn and spring, when the weather is right and the ground still soft from recent rains, the Italians take to the woodlands with baskets on their arms to search for mushrooms.
There are quite a few species that they search for, but porcini are the treasure of the hunt. They are also among the most difficult to find. It may be possible to discover a carpet of chanterelles (finferli in Italian) but not porcini! They tend to hide in the darker crevices under leaves and detritus.
So, if you are not in the know about specific spots where this mushroom might pop up, it can often be a frustrating search (hence the excitement when a porcino is found!)
Porcini means piglets in Italian.
The name porcini actually means "piglets" in Italian. For the French they are cèpe, for the Germans steinpilz meaning stone mushroom and the English also call them cep or ‘penny buns’. The term ‘porcini mushroom’ actually refers to a few different species.
The most highly appreciated from a culinary point of view is Boletus edulis, or the king bolete. This is usually the mushroom people refer to when they say porcini and this is the one the Italians use in their cuisine to make some of the most delicious dishes in their repertoire! (in my opinion anyway!)
Which are better; fresh, frozen or dried porcini?
Among the most popular ways to cook Boletus edulis in Italy are in risotto or with pasta like this tagliatelle with porcini recipe. Since fresh ones are hard to come by, seasonal and expensive when bought, many people (even in Italy) use dried or frozen mushrooms instead.
Personally, I find the taste of dried ones a little strong, especially with pasta. So, when I use them, I add other fresh mushrooms too. Frozen porcini are a good substitute for fresh. They still retain the aroma and nutty flavour that porcini lovers know so well and are very similar in consistency to fresh ones when cooked.
Mushrooms for this recipe.
I have made this porcini pasta recipe with just fresh porcini, and with a combination of dried or frozen ones together with other mushrooms like cremini. Using different mushrooms not only reduces the cost of making this, but the other mushrooms add the meaty texture of fresh fungi that frozen and dried mushrooms don't have.
If you can get your hands on fresh or frozen porcini, do use them. But, you can also use dried ones soaked in water. If you do, look for large or whole dried ones. They are better than packets with lots of small pieces.
This recipe is originally from Tuscany but porcini are cooked with pasta throughout the Italian peninsula. Some recipes are pretty simple like this one (just the mushrooms, wine, garlic and wild mint or thyme) but others include vegetables such as peas or meat such as speck or sausage.
What pasta to use.
Tagliatelle is the most traditional kind of pasta to go with porcini because it's a rich pasta and soaks up all the sauce but pappardelle or fettuccine will work too. I usually use fresh homemade or store-bought pasta. Of course, you can also use dried.
If you make this recipe I’d love to hear how it turns out and if you liked it. Please leave a comment here on the blog or on The Pasta Project Facebook page. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Buon appetito!
Other delicious pasta recipes with porcini mushrooms you should check out!
- Potato and porcini mushroom cannelloni (manicotti)
- Paccheri with porcini, speck and pistachio
- Pasta alla Boscaiola (woodman's pasta)
- Lasagna bianca with mushrooms and burrata
- Gluten free pasta with porcini and chicken livers
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This recipe was originally published in 2107 but has been updated with new images and text.
If you are interested in learning how to make homemade pasta and different types of gnocchi, check out my shop page for some great video online courses from my friends in Rome! Nothing beats learning to make pasta from Italians! Plus while you’re there why not order a copy of one of my pasta recipe cookbooks or checkout some recommended pasta making tools?
Pam Segale says
Jacqueline - I live in California and am lucky that a wonderful, local produce market sells fresh porcini mushrooms when they are available. They also sell dried ones. I made the tagliatelle with fresh porcini mushroom recipe and it was absolutely delicious! Such a simple dish with so much flavor! When I made this pasta, we had a family friend for dinner whose family is from Lucca. He talked about mushroom hunting with his father which he enjoyed and he absolutely loved the pasta. He had a second helping! I’ll be making this recipe again when I’m lucky enough to get more fresh porcini mushrooms. And I’ll probably try it with other varieties of mushrooms. Thank you for your wonderful recipes.
Jacqui says
Hi Pam, I'm happy you enjoyed this tagliatelle with porcini. It's a classic and so very good. When I don't have fresh (or frozen) porcini, I also use dried porcini for the flavor with other mushrooms for the meaty texture.
Sven says
amazing. so simple but extremely rich tasty.
Jacqui says
Hi Sven, I'm thrilled you liked the porcini tagliatelle so much. It's a favourite in our house!
Amy says
Great recipe! We don't have tagliatelle often enough it was delicious! Kids smashed it real quick.