Creamy mushroom pasta
This creamy mushroom pasta makes a healthy, super-satisfying dinner for two at just over £1 per portion. Dr Rupy uses silken tofu to give the sauce a wonderful creaminess and extra protein.
Each serving provides 743 kcal, 28g protein, 53g carbohydrate (of which 7g sugars), 14g fat (of which 2g saturates), 12g fibre and 1.2g salt.
Ingredients
- 150g/5½oz wholewheat tagliatelle (or spaghetti)
- olive oil, for frying
- 1 large leek, thinly sliced
- 200g/7oz baby leaf spinach (or frozen spinach, see Recipe Tip)
- 200g/7oz mushrooms, thickly sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 150g/5½oz silken tofu
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method
Cook the pasta in a large saucepan of boiling salted water for 10 minutes, or according to the packet instructions. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the cooking water.
Meanwhile, heat a splash of olive oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat and fry the leeks gently for 5 minutes, until soft. Spoon into a bowl and set aside.
Add a little more oil to the pan, increase the heat, then add the spinach and cook for a minute or 2, until wilted. Tip the spinach out onto a plate lined with kitchen paper, cover with more kitchen paper and squeeze out the excess moisture.
Heat some more oil in the frying pan, add the mushrooms and fry over a high heat until softened and caramelised. Add the garlic, fry for a couple of minutes, then return the leeks and spinach to the pan.
Put the silken tofu and soy sauce in a tall jug and add 3 tablespoons of the reserved pasta water. Use a stick blender to blend to a smooth sauce, then pour into the pan with the mushroom mixture.
Add the cooked pasta to the pan and toss everything together. Season to taste with salt and pepper, then serve.
Recipe Tips
Wholewheat pasta contains at least twice the fibre of regular pasta. It also has a slightly rougher surface, which helps the sauce cling to it.
If you can’t find tagliatelle, use penne, fusilli or spaghetti – any whole wheat pasta will do.
Don’t season the mushrooms until the end of cooking. If you add salt too early, it’ll draw the moisture out of the mushrooms and they’ll sweat in the pan rather than caramelising.
You can use frozen spinach, just make sure it’s completely defrosted first. Use kitchen paper to squeeze out as much moisture as possible before adding to the pan.
Leftover silken tofu can be whipped into a tasty dip, flavoured with something punchy like lime and garlic, harissa or miso. Serve with oven chips or spread into your favourite wrap.