Pasta a la Norcina

Ingredientes

• 12 ounces dry pasta (we used shells but you could use any firm shape such as Penne, Rigatoni, Fusili, etc.)
• 12 ounces Cremini mushrooms, sliced (also known as Baby Bella)
• 4 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves, ground (we placed ours in a mortar and pestle along with the salt and ground to a fine powder)
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, as mentioned above
• 1 pound Italian sausage, remove from casings
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups yellow onion, diced
• 2 tablespoons fresh garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1 pint (2 cups) heavy cream
• 1/2 cup grated Romano cheese, plus more for serving

Preparación

1. 1

   Start a large pot of water to boil. Once boiling, add a little salt and the pasta and cook just shy of done. (still a little chewy). Do not discard pasta water yet.

2. 2

   While pasta is cooking, in a large skillet without heat, add sliced mushrooms and turn the heat to medium high heat and cook until browned, stirring often, about 8 minutes. Once browned, add butter, salt and ground rosemary. Stir and scrape contents into a bowl.

3. 3

   Place the sausage meat into the skillet and over medium high heat, brown the sausage meat, about 5-8 minutes.

4. 4

   Move the meat to the edges and add the olive oil, onions and garlic and cook to soften the onions, for about 3 minutes.

5. 5

   Stir in the white pepper and nutmeg, then add the mushrooms back in along with the white wine. Cook to evaporate most of the wine, for about 5 minutes.

6. 6

   Add the heavy cream and grated Romano cheese and heat just to bubbling then remove from heat.

7. 7

   By now, the pasta should be ready. Save a few cups of the pasta water and drain the rest.

8. 8

   Place the drained pasta back into the pot and pour over the sauce.

9. 9

   Place heat on medium and finish cooking the pasta in the sauce, adding pasta water if needed as you go until the pasta is fully cooked.

10. 10

    Serve with additional Romano cheese over each portion.