Description
A cozy and savory pasta dish featuring caramelized leeks, sautéed mushrooms, and melted Gruyère cheese, perfect for an easy homemade dinner that feels special.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 medium leeks (white and light green parts only), cleaned and sliced thinly
- 8 oz (225g) cremini or baby bella mushrooms, sliced about 1/4 inch thick
- 1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese (about 100g), freshly shredded
- 12 oz (340g) pasta (fettuccine or pappardelle recommended)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons (42g) unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup (120ml) heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and prep: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Trim and slice leeks thinly, rinse under cold water to remove dirt. Slice mushrooms about 1/4 inch thick.
- Cook the pasta: Add pasta to boiling water and cook until just al dente, about 10-12 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining. Drain pasta and set aside.
- Caramelize the leeks and mushrooms: Heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add leeks and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden and softened, about 8 minutes. Add mushrooms, garlic, thyme, and a pinch of salt. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are tender and caramelized, about 10 more minutes.
- Make the cheese sauce: Lower heat to medium-low, add heavy cream to skillet and stir to combine. Slowly add shredded Gruyère a handful at a time, stirring constantly until melted and smooth. If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a splash at a time until desired creaminess is reached. Season with salt, pepper, and optional lemon zest.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add cooked pasta to skillet and gently toss to coat. Heat through for 1-2 minutes to meld flavors.
- Serve immediately: Plate pasta, garnish with extra thyme or cheese if desired, and enjoy.
Notes
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: Savory Caramelized Leek Mushroom