pat's Recipe

Fettuccine with Mushrooms, Tarragon, and Goat-Cheese Sauce

Category: PASTA

1 tablespoon(s) butter
2 tablespoon(s) olive oil
1 pound(s) mushrooms, cut into thin slices
1 teaspoon(s) salt
1/4 teaspoon(s) fresh-ground black pepper
2 tablespoon(s) chopped fresh tarragon, or 2 teaspoons dried tarragon
1/2 pound(s) mild goat cheese
1/3 cup(s) grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
1/3 cup(s) milk
3/4 pound(s) fettuccine
2 tablespoon(s) chopped fresh chives or scallion tops

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Directions

In a large frying pan, melt the butter with 1 tablespoon of the oil over high heat. Add the mushrooms, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, the pepper, and the dried tarragon, if using, and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to moderately high and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are golden brown and no liquid remains in the pan, about 5 minutes.
In a small bowl, combine the goat cheese, Parmesan, milk, and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt. Stir until smooth.
Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the fettuccine until just done, about 12 minutes. Reserve 1 1/2 cups of the pasta-cooking water and drain. Whisk 1 cup of the pasta-cooking water into the goat-cheese mixture. Toss the pasta with the mushrooms, the goat-cheese sauce, the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon olive oil, the fresh tarragon, if using, and the chives. If the pasta seems dry, add more of the reserved pasta-cooking water. Serve with additional Parmesan.
Serves 4.
Variation: Use fresh basil instead of or in addition to the tarragon and chives in the recipe.