Tagliatelle With Maitake Mushrooms And Pickled Chilies

tagliatelle Tangy, spicy, hearty vegetarian — change up your pasta game with chef Aliya Leekong.
Aliya Leekong•

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Chef, author, TV host and global culinary ambassador Aliya Leekong is a Food Republic favorite. Leekong sources techniques and ingredients from around the world, and whether you're making a recipe from her cookbook, Exotic Table, or just one off the top of her head (like this incredibly delicious tangy-spicy pasta), you're in for an excellent meal.

Maitake mushrooms are such a favorite — they are meaty and nutty (and have actually replaced my weekend bacon, if you can believe it).  I did a pop-up dinner at a little store in my neighborhood in Brooklyn and created this dish for the dinner. Pan-roasting the mushrooms until crisp and finishing them with butter and salt make them irresistible — that's a key step in the recipe. They need a proper sear to bring out what's best in the dish. The sauce is super-thin and easy and gets an extra hit from the pickled pepper juice. I top the pasta with some of the pickled peppers, chopped cilantro and Egyptian dukkah, a gorgeous nut and spice blend with coriander that complements the mushrooms beautifully.

Tagliatelle With Maitake Mushrooms And Pickled Chilies
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Prep Time
25
minutes
Cook Time
1
hour
Servings
0
servings
Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup hazelnuts
  • 1/4 cup pistachios
  • 1/2 cup white sesame seeds
  • 1/4 cup coriander seeds
  • 2 tablespoons white cumin seeds
  • 2 tablespoons fennel seeds
  • 2 tablespoons dried mint
  • Pinch of chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 pound fresh or dried tagliatelle
  • 1-2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 4-5 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 8-ounce mitake mushrooms
  • 1 shallot
  • 3 cloves fresh or roasted garlic
  • 1/4 cup white wine
  • 3/4 cup chicken broth
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup pasta water
  • Scant 1/4 cup pickled cherry peppers
  • Small handful of fresh cilantro
  • 2 tablespoons Egyptian dukkah
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
  1. :::dukkah:::
  2. Preheat the oven to 350° F.
  3. As opposed to toasting in the skillet, I like to toast this blend up in the oven so the nuts and spices toast evenly. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Add the hazelnuts, pistachios and all of the seeds and make sure they are in a single layer. Toast for 8 to 10 minutes — you should smell a really nutty fragrance.
  4. Transfer toasted nuts and spices to a mortar and pestle or a spice/coffee grinder. I like a slightly rough texture for this, so grind until there are still bits and pieces and it’s not completely powder.
  5. Combine with the dried mint, chili powder, black pepper and salt. Store in an airtight container, preferably in a cool spot — it will keep for about a month.
  6. :::tagliatelle:::
  7. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season generously with salt until the water tastes salty. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still a bit firm to the bite, about 8 to 10 minutes if dry or according to package directions if fresh. Drain pasta, reserving ¼ cup of the pasta cooking water.
  8. While the pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet over high heat. Add the tablespoon of canola oil, and when the oil starts to smoke, add the maitake mushrooms in a single layer. If they don’t all fit, you may need to repeat the process depending on the size of your skillet. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes. The cooked side of the mushroom should be golden brown and crispy. Flip the mushrooms and throw in 2 tablespoons of the unsalted butter. Season the mushrooms generously and cook for another 2 minutes. Remove mushrooms using tongs to a paper towel–lined plate. If repeating, use the other tablespoon of canola oil and only 1 more tablespoon of butter.
  9. Lower the heat to medium-low, add another tablespoon of butter and the shallots and garlic with a bit of salt. Let cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the shallots are translucent. Increase the heat to medium-high and pour in the white wine. Reduce until most of the wine has evaporated and the shallots are almost dry. Then add in the chicken broth, heavy cream, and pasta water. Reduce by half. The sauce should coat a spoon but shouldn’t be too thick.
  10. Remove the sauce from the heat and swirl in a final tablespoon of butter along with 2 teaspoons of the pickled cherry pepper juice. Taste and adjust seasoning. Throw in the pasta, maitakes and chopped cilantro and toss to coat.
  11. Serve immediately, garnished with a few pickled cherry peppers and about a teaspoon of Egyptian dukkah per plate.
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