Spicy Garlic & Chile Pasta with Crispy Mushrooms
Ingredients
- 12 ouncespasta (any shape)
- 1 poundmushrooms (cremini, shiitake, or mix)
- 6 clovesgarlic
- ½ teaspoonred pepper flakes
- 4 tablespoonolive oil
- ½ cupvegetable broth
- 1lemon
- ¼ cupfresh parsley
- ½ cupparmesan cheese
- 1 pinchsalt and black pepper
Prep
- 01
Mince 6 cloves garlic.
- 02
Roughly chop 1 pound mushrooms into bite-sized pieces.
- 03
Chop 1/4 cup fresh parsley.
Method
- 01
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until just below al dente (about 1 minute under package time); drain and set aside, reserving 1 cup pasta water.
- 02
While pasta cooks, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and cook undisturbed for 4 minutes until golden. Stir, then cook another 3-4 minutes until crispy at the edges. Season with salt and pepper, then transfer to a plate.
- 03
In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until fragrant and garlic begins to turn pale gold—do not brown.
- 04
Pour in vegetable broth and 1/2 cup reserved pasta water. Bring to a simmer. Add drained pasta and mushrooms back to the skillet. Toss gently over medium heat for 1-2 minutes until pasta finishes cooking and absorbs some liquid. Add more pasta water a splash at a time if the pan looks dry.
- 05
Remove from heat. Squeeze juice from 1 lemon over the pasta. Toss in parsley and half the parmesan. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to your heat preference.
- 06
Divide between bowls and top with remaining parmesan. Serve immediately.
Spice Tips
The red pepper flakes here deliver warmth without overwhelming heat. For more punch, increase to 3/4 teaspoon or finish with a pinch of cayenne. For milder palates, reduce to 1/4 teaspoon. A splash of hot sauce (sriracha, harissa) stirred in at the end adds both heat and complexity.
For deeper umami, use a mix of cremini and shiitake mushrooms. This dish comes together fastest if you prep the mushrooms and garlic while the pasta water heats.