Creamy Bacon
Mushroom Pasta

Indulge in a rich, velvety pasta featuring crispy bacon, earthy sautéed mushrooms, and a luscious cheese-infused sauce, all tied together with fresh thyme.

Ingredients

• 200 g spaghetti
• 4 slices American-style bacon
• 7 mushrooms white button mushrooms
• 0.5 unit onion
• 2 slices processed cheese
• 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 sprig fresh thyme
• to taste sea salt
• to taste black pepper
• 1 tbsp cooking oil

Instructions

1. 1Prepare the Mushrooms

   

   Take 6 to 7 fresh white button mushrooms and thinly slice them on a cutting board. These will provide a savory, earthy base for the pasta sauce.

   Tip: For the best texture, ensure your slices are even so the mushrooms cook uniformly.
2. 2Prepare the Bacon

   

   Take 3 to 4 slices of American-style bacon and cut them into 2cm pieces. These small bites of bacon will crisp up beautifully and infuse the dish with salty flavor.

   Tip: Keep the pieces uniform to ensure they render and brown at the same rate.
3. 3Boil the Pasta

   

   Bring a pot of water to a boil, adding a spoonful of oil and a pinch of salt. Add the spaghetti to the water; if it is curled, gently straighten it out as it softens. Boil for 8 to 10 minutes for standard texture, or 15 to 20 minutes if you prefer your pasta softer.

   Tip: Adding oil to the boiling water prevents the pasta from sticking together.
4. 4Render the Bacon

   

   Place the bacon pieces into a pan over medium-low heat. Cook them steadily, allowing the fat to render out until the bacon turns golden and crisp.

   Tip: Cook slowly to get the fat to render thoroughly without burning the meat.
5. 5Infuse with Thyme

   

   Once the bacon is crispy, turn the heat to the lowest setting and add a sprig of fresh thyme to the pan. Let it infuse the rendered bacon fat with its herbal aroma, then remove the sprig.

   Tip: Infusing on low heat ensures the thyme flavors the fat without burning the leaves.
6. 6Sauté Aromatics and Mushrooms

   

   Add the chopped onions to the pan with the bacon fat and sauté until they are soft. Next, add the sliced mushrooms and continue cooking until they are tender.

   Tip: Cooking the onions until translucent first builds a sweet flavor base for the mushrooms.
7. 7Create the creamy sauce

   

   In the pan with the sautéed mushrooms and onions, add a knob of butter and a splash of water. Place two slices of processed cheese into the pan, allowing them to melt and incorporate with the ingredients to create a rich, creamy sauce. Season with sea salt and black pepper according to your preference.

   Tip: Keep the heat low when melting the cheese to ensure a smooth, emulsified sauce without separation.
8. 8Combine pasta and sauce

   

   Once the pasta has boiled for about 15 minutes, transfer it directly into the prepared creamy sauce in the pan. Toss and stir the pasta thoroughly to ensure every strand is evenly coated and absorbs the flavors. Finish by stirring in grated Parmesan cheese and increasing the heat slightly to thicken the sauce to your desired consistency.

   Tip: If the sauce becomes too thick, add a small spoonful of the starchy pasta cooking water to loosen it.

Storage & Reheating

Burn It Off

Frequently Asked Questions