Pappardelle alla Boscaiola (Pappardelle Pasta in Wild Mushroom Sauce) Recipe

By
Danette St. Onge
Danette St. Onge
Danette St. Onge
Danette St. Onge is a food writer specializing in international cuisines. She authored "The Better-Than-Takeout Thai Cookbook" and has also served as the Italian Food Expert for The Spruce Eats.
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Updated on 06/1/22
Pappardelle with wild mushroom and tomato sauce (boscaiola)
Pappardelle with wild mushroom and tomato sauce (boscaiola)

Lea Lee / Getty Images
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 100 mins
Total: 105 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
306 Calories
20g Fat
23g Carbs
6g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 306
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 20g 25%
Saturated Fat 5g 27%
Cholesterol 17mg 6%
Sodium 99mg 4%
Total Carbohydrate 23g 8%
Dietary Fiber 4g 16%
Protein 6g
Calcium 115mg 9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Pasta with a mushroom sauce known as "boscaiola" (meaning something like "forest-style" or "woodman's style") is one of the most common Italian restaurant dishes, and you will encounter it on menus throughout Italy.

This recipe calls for porcini mushrooms, Boletus edulis, and they are necessary to do it justice. Ideally, you should use fresh porcini, but if you cannot find them you will have to make do by using a mixture of plain fresh mushrooms and dried porcini: purchase cultivated mushrooms and a 20-gram (1-ounce) packet of dried porcini (this will be about 1/2 cup, packed; if you want, you can use more, but don't exaggerate). Steep the dried mushrooms in warm water for 20 minutes, then mince them and add them to the cultivated mushrooms. Carefully strain the steeping liquid, since it may contain sand, and add it to the sauce as well.

Another option, in the absence of fresh porcini, is to use whatever wild mushrooms are available where you live, combining them with some cultured mushrooms if need be and some steeped dried porcini. One last thing: This recipe calls for ​​pappardelle, which are broad (1-inch) strips of pasta. You can, if you want, use fettuccine (1/2-inch strips), tagliatelle, or a hollow form such as penne.

Ingredients

  • 3/4 pound/350 grams porcini mushrooms (fresh)
  • 2 shallots
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 1 small bunch of flat-leaf parsley
  • Leaves of 1 sprig of rosemary
  • A few leaves of fresh sage
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3/4 pound/350 grams canned diced tomatoes
  • 3/4 cup dry white wine
  • Fine sea salt (to taste)
  • Black pepper (freshly ground, to taste)
  • Optional: 1/4 cup heavy cream (see below)
  • 1 pound/400 grams pappardelle (ideally fresh rather than dried)
  • Optional: Grana Padano or Parmigiano-Reggiano (freshly grated)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Clean the mushrooms, brushing the dirt away from the stems, and separate the caps from the stems; dice the stems and slice the caps, keeping them separate.

  3. Mince the shallots, garlic, and herbs and sauté them for about 3 to 4 minutes in 4 tablespoons of oil in a large pot.

  4. Add the diced stems, cook 1 more minute, and then add the tomatoes and 1/2 cup of the wine.

  5. Season with a little salt and black pepper and simmer the mixture over a very gentle flame for 30 minutes.

  6. Add a little more wine and a splash of water (or the liquid the mushrooms steeped in if you are using dried mushrooms), and the sliced caps.

  7. Continue simmering the sauce over a gentle flame until the pasta is ready.

    Tip

    Depending upon how much moisture the mushrooms contain, you may need to add more liquid—another splash of wine and a little hot water, or if you'd rather 1/4 cup of heavy cream, and if need be, a little water.

  8. In the meantime, bring pasta water to a boil, salt it, and cook the pappardelle.

  9. Drain the pasta and toss it with the sauce; then serve with grated cheese for those who want it. Enjoy!

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