Uruguayan Pasta - with Caruso Sauce

Pasta rigatoni with mushroom sauce and nuts
Bartosz Luczak / Getty Images
  • 35 mins
  • Prep: 10 mins,
  • Cook: 25 mins
  • Yield: Servings 4 to 6
Ratings (7)

By Marian Blazes

Updated 04/30/18

This famous Uruguyan pasta sauce is named after Enrico Caruso, a well-known opera singer who visited Montevideo in the early 20th century. Italian food (especially pasta) is very popular in Uruguay, but Uruguayans like to add their own touch to traditional Italian dishes - like the beef broth to this creamy ham and cheese sauce. The result is delicious, and goes well with orecchiette or any medium shell past.

What You'll Need

  • 1 pound pasta (orecchiette or another shell-like shape)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1 cup sliced mushrooms
  • 1/4 pound smoked deli ham, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 1 tablespoon beef bouillon (about 3 cubes), or to taste
  • 2 cups milk or cream
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • Garnish: parsley

How to Make It

  1. In a heavy skillet, sauté chopped onion in the olive oil until soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
  2. Add sliced mushrooms and cook, stirring, until mushrooms have browned and most of the water is evaporated. Stir in ham and set aside.
  3. Bring large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions.
  4. While pasta is cooking, melt butter in a saucepan. Whisk in flour. Cook over medium heat until just bubbly.
  1. Add milk slowly to the saucepan, stirring. Add bouillon. Continue to heat milk, stirring with a whisk, until sauce thickens and just starts to come to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in cheeses. Stir in sautéed mushrooms and onions.
  2. Drain pasta well. Ladle sauce over pasta and serve.

 

Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
Calories 792
Total Fat 47 g
Saturated Fat 25 g
Unsaturated Fat 15 g
Cholesterol 126 mg
Sodium 897 mg
Carbohydrates 74 g
Dietary Fiber 5 g
Protein 21 g
(The nutrition information on our recipes is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. Individual results may vary.)