Stephencooks

Lion's Mane and Oyster Mushroom Pasta
with Breadcrumb/Fennel/Garlic Topping

12 oz fresh oyster and lion's mane mushrooms, or other fresh mushrooms
4 shallots, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
olive oil
1 T tomato paste
1/4 C cilantro, minced
6 sage leaves, minced
1 C mushroom or vegetable broth*
1 C dry white wine
1/2 C heavy cream (optional)
2 T butter
1/2 C Parmiggiano Reggiano, shredded
fish sauce, hot sauce to taste
8 oz fettucine or other dried pasta

...for the topping:
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 C minced fennel
1/3 C unflavored bread crumbs
olive oil
salt, cayenne pepper to taste

Make the topping first, if using:
Sauté the garlic, fennel and bread crumbs in olive oil until golden brown. Remove with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Set aside.

Slice the lion's mane into 1/4" thick slices. Gently separate the oyster mushroom petals. Chop any stem or core pieces from the oyster mushroom.

Sauté the shallots and garlic in olive oil until the shallots just start to turn translucent. Remove from pan and set aside. Add some more olive oil to the pan and then the mushrooms. Gently stir them over medium high heat for a few minutes. Add the broth, tomato paste and wine, lower heat and cover. Cook for 8 minutes. Remove cover and stir gently over medium heat until the liquid is nearly gone. Stir in the reserved shallot/garlic mixture, sage, cilantro, butter, cheese and cream (if using). Season to taste with the fish sauce and hot sauce. Keep warm if the pasta isn't quite ready.

Cook the pasta in boiling salted water. When cooked, remove a dozen or so of the larger mushroom pieces to a side plate. Then, with tongs, lift the pasta directly into the pan with the mushroom sauce, allowing a little of the pasta water to ride along. Over medium heat, lift and toss the pasta to mix with the sauce (be careful not to break up the mushroom pieces).

To serve, place in a warmed pasta bowl. Top with the reserved mushroom pieces, a sprinkling of the fennel/garlic topping and, if desired, a stalk or two of chives.

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*Broth. There are commercial vegetable broths available but it's so easy to make whenever you have mushroom stems, vegetable trimmings, etc. Just put them in a pot, being sure to include something from the onion family, a carrot stub or two, some celery, some parsley and a bay leaf. (I vary this wildly according to what's at hand.  Garlic, garam masala, fennel, whatever.) Add water to cover and simmer for an hour or so. Cool and strain through a sieve, pressing to get all the liquid. I never season the broth, preferring to season the dishes it goes into instead. Freeze until needed.