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Home » Specific Diets » Vegetarian

Published: Jul 19, 2022 · Modified: Oct 9, 2022 by Jacqui

Tagliatelle with Porcini Mushrooms


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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 Italain 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!).

tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms

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!

tagliatelle with porcini

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.

ingredients for tagliatelle with porcini on wood work surface
Step 1 Gather your ingredients. If you don’t have fresh porcini use frozen or dried with another type of mushroom.

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.

Step 2 Peel the garlic and cut the mushrooms into smallish pieces. If using dried porcini soak them in warm water first.

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 and cremini mushrooms cooking in frying pan
Step 3 Sauté the mushrooms in olive oil. Then add wine and wild mint or thyme.

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.

pats of butter in frying pan with porcini and cremini mushrooms
Step 4 Add some butter to the mushrooms and simmer until the butter has melted.

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!)

ready porcini pasta sauce
Step 5 When the mushrooms are ready, remove from the heat and cook the pasta.

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.

cooked tagliatelle in pan with mushrooms
Step 6 Cook the tagliatelle al dente, save a little pasta cooking water, drain and add to the mushrooms.

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.

tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms mixed together in pan
Step 7 Mix the tagliatelle and porcini mushrooms together in the pan over a low heat.

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.

tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms
Step 8 Serve your tagliatelle with porcini as is or with grated Parmigiano.

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.

tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms

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!

  1. Potato and porcini mushroom cannelloni (manicotti)
  2. Paccheri with porcini, speck and pistachio
  3. Pasta alla Boscaiola (woodman’s pasta)
  4. Lasagna bianca with mushrooms and burrata
  5. Gluten free pasta with porcini and chicken livers

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tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms

This recipe was originally published in 2107 but has been updated with new images and text.

tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms

Tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms

Jacqueline Debono
The deliciousness of pasta with porcini can only be understood by those who have had the pleasure of eating it. It’s an easy dish to make as long as you can find good quality porcini. So definitely worth going mushroom hunting for (even in your local supermarket!).
5 from 43 votes
Print Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 40 mins
Total Time 55 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian, Mediterranean, Tuscany
Servings 4
Calories 294 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 400 g tagliatelle (14oz) fresh or dried
  • 500 g fresh or frozen porcini mushrooms (17oz) or 250 g porcini and 250 g cremini. See recipe notes about using dried porcini
  • ½ glass white wine
  • 3-4 fresh nepitella small leafed wild mint sprigs or thyme or parsley
  • 2-3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves peeled
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • salt and pepper to taste and salt for pasta cooking water
  • Parmigiano Reggiano grated or vegetarian parmesan (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Put water on to boil for the pasta. Add salt once it starts to boil.
  • Clean the fresh mushrooms by cutting off the end of the stalk. It would be better not to rinse with water, given that the fungus absorbs it. You can use a small brush to remove any soil, or a damp cloth.
  • Cut the mushrooms into pieces
  • Fry the peeled garlic cloves in the olive oil, then remove them when golden and add the mushrooms.
  • Cook them for about 3-4 minutes until they start to brown. If using frozen mushrooms add after the fresh ones have browned a little
  • Add wine and nepitella or thyme, increase the heat and cook until the alcohol has evaporated
  • Reduce the heat and add salt and pepper.
  • Continue to cook for about another 10-15 minutes. Lower the heat once mushrooms are cooked through and add the butter. When the butter has melted remove the pan from the heat.
  • Cook the pasta in salted boiling water, remove a glass of the pasta cooking water to be used later and then drain and add the pasta to the pan with the mushrooms and butter.
  • Toss everything together over a low heat. The pasta absorbs liquid very quickly so if it looks too dry, add a little of the pasta cooking water at a time until you get the right creaminess.
  • Serve immediately with grated parmigiano or vegetarian parmesan as required.

Notes

If you want you can also add peas to this recipe very easily after adding the wine.
Tagliatelle is the most traditional kind of pasta to go with porcini because it soaks up all the sauce well and fresh tagliatelle has a rich taste, but pappardelle or fettuccine will work too.
Italian Parmigiano isn’t vegetarian so use a vegetarian parmesan or omit cheese for a vegetarian version. Nutrition info doesn’t include cheese.
USING DRIED PORCINI. Because dried porcini have a very strong taste and are expensive, I would suggest mixing them with some cremini or white champignon/button mushrooms) That way you also get nice pieces of mushroom in the sauce. 60g (2oz) dried porcini & 400g (14oz) other mushrooms. Soak the dried porcini in a bowl of warm water for at least 30 minutes before draining and cooking. (the water should cover the mushrooms) You can use a bit of the soaking liquid in the sauce. 
Keyword mushroom pasta, porcini, porcini pasta

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?


More Vegetarian

  • Spinach Ricotta Gnocchi Recipe from Piemonte.
  • Sardinian Fregola with Chickpeas.
  • Pasta Cacio e Pepe
  • Drunken Spaghetti Recipe (red wine pasta)

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. David Skulski says

    August 15, 2022 at 5:20 am

    Found a mushroom supplier that has porcini (hard to find here). Delizioso! Next will be a risotto ai funghi porcini. Grazie per la ricetta.

    Reply
  2. Hayley Dhanecha says

    August 01, 2022 at 9:52 am

    Such a comforting and delicious mushroom pasta! Yet to try porcini mushrooms, can’t wait to try it.

    Reply
  3. Loreto and Nicoletta says

    August 01, 2022 at 6:28 am

    There is nothing like a Porcini mushroom. The flavor, texture and aroma is absolutely mouthwatering. Add in those lovely tagliatelle and I am sold!

    Reply
  4. Chenée says

    July 31, 2022 at 11:55 pm

    I love the flavors of the porcini mushrooms in this pasta dish! It was so easy to make and perfect for a meatless weekday dinner!

    Reply
  5. Tammy says

    July 30, 2022 at 8:56 pm

    Gosh how I would love to stay a summer in Italy and partake in mushroom picking and pasta making classes…sounds like such a lovely time. This dish is beautiful and instantly transports me to Italy. Love!

    Reply
  6. Jessica says

    July 28, 2022 at 6:19 pm

    The flavors of Tuscany really come through in this recipe! I love mushroom pastas, so I followed your steps carefully, and was very pleased with the result. Excellent dish!!

    Reply
  7. Jessica says

    July 27, 2022 at 5:19 pm

    This recipe was absolutely FANTASTIC! I wasn’t sure how to make it, so I wanted to pay close attention to this recipe and I’m so glad I did. It was easy to follow and turned out delish!

    Reply
  8. Lauren Michael Harris says

    July 27, 2022 at 12:54 pm

    This is such a simple, beautiful dish. It definitely cured my craving for something savory and comforting. Will make again and again!

    Reply
  9. Cathleen says

    July 26, 2022 at 9:59 pm

    This is one of the tastiest pastas I have ever tried! Even my mother in law who doesn’t like mushrooms likes it! Definitely a keeper 🙂

    Reply
  10. Bernice says

    July 26, 2022 at 5:52 am

    I don’t get much of a chance to go mushroom picking but I do have sources for fresh mushrooms, and finding porcinis is even more rare. When I see them I do splurge and always enjoy them with freshly made pasta.

    Reply
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Buon giorno and welcome to my pasta project! My name is Jacqui. I’m originally a Londoner but in 2003 life’s journey brought me to the beautiful Veneto region of Italy where…

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