Mascarpone Pasta
A simple pasta with creamy mascarpone cheese, this is one amazing comforting main dish or side dish that pairs well with fish or chicken. This recipe is made with a lot of fresh pepper like a Cacio e Pepe, but you can scale down the amount added for a plain creamy pasta.
Servings: 4 people
Ingredients
- 11-12 oz dried linguine or spaghetti pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 minced garlic cloves
- 1 shallot, chopped small (about 1/4 cup)
- 1/2 cup vegetable broth
- 1/3 cup pasta water *reserve about 1 cup total
- 6-8 oz mascarpone cheese
- 3/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- kosher salt for pasta water
Instructions
- Heat a large pot of water over high heat, and add about 1-2 tablespoons of kosher salt to salt it. Cook pasta in salted water according to package directions then drain, reserving about 1 cup of pasta water.
- Add olive oil to a large pan over medium heat, then add garlic and shallots, stirring often for about 1-2 minutes till fragrant and softened. Add vegetable broth, bringing to a simmer until it is reduced to about 1/3 cup of liquid.
- Add in pasta water and cooked pasta, using tongs to toss with the shallots and garlic until well-coated. Turn the heat to low and add in mascarpone cheese, continuing to toss the pasta till it gets fully incorporated and very creamy. Add in more pasta water as needed to thin the sauce. Stir in fresh black pepper and adjust any seasonings to taste.
Notes
- This recipe is made with a lot of fresh black pepper similar to a Cacio e Pepe, but it can be decreased to adjust to your taste if you want a more plain, creamy pasta.
- Use a good quality mascarpone cheese like BelGiosio or Vermont Creamery, which will make a difference in taste and texture.
- A serving size for pasta is typically about 2oz. This is calculated for 3oz as a main dish, but would need to be paired with a protein and/or side salad for a complete meal.
- For gluten free, use a favorite gluten free pasta. For low sodium, omit added salt for pasta water.
Nutrition
Serving: 3oz | Calories: 499kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 30mg | Potassium: 204mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 596IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 83mg | Iron: 1mg
