Vegano Linguine ai Funghi

Chanterelle Mushroom season is here in Central Europe! Seasonal produce is the perfect recipe inspiration- pushing for creativity and new focus points for meals!

One thing that I have noticed from being in Austria on and off over the past few years is that many restaurants here contain seasonal menus. Providing flair and fun during the restaurant experience is key to keeping customers coming back!

Chanterelles, also known as Eierschwammerl (AT) or Pfifferling (DE), have a great texture to them and contain a "meatier" taste. Although I love mushrooms, I sometimes have a hard time eating them because they can weird me out. However, that is not the case with Chanterelles! they provide flavor, texture, and a boost of excitement because I know they are locally-grown and foraged.

While in Austria, my boyfriend and I always go to the seasonal stands around the forest and buy fresh mushrooms, berries, herbs, and whatever else we can get our hands on.

Now, you may be asking, what is so special about this mushroom?

Chanterelles contain high amounts of Vitamin D and specific polysaccarides, Chitin and Chitosan, which stimulates the immune systema protect your cells from damage and to produce more cells. This mushroom is anti-inflammatory and increases bone health by aiding calcium absorption.

With an abundance of recipes and ways to create a feel-good mushroom meal, I started with an easy pasta recipe, naturally. During my university days, Tagliatelle ai Funghi was one of my favorite dishes to order in Ticino, the Italian region of Switzerland.

I experimented with this recipe when I was cooking dinner for my boyfriend's family. They are not vegans by any sense, but they love home-cooked meals and spending time together. Including locally grown produce that they love, such as Chanterelles, was a great way to incorporate their taste palates to a meal shared with loved ones.

Ingredients: Serves 4-6

- 1 box of Pasta (500g, I used whole-grain for this recipe)

***Gluten-Free Friends: Make with your favorite Gluten-Free Pasta***

- 1 Coconut Milk can (around 400mL)

- 2 Chanterelle boxes (800g)

- 2 Medium White Onions

- Vegan Cheez (100g)

- 4 Garlic Cloves

- Bundle of Parsley (80g)

- Olive Oil

- Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Wash and scrub the chanterelles. Mushrooms are dirt magnets, so be very thorough when washing them.

2. Cut the clean chanterelles in half.

3. Dice the garlic cloves and cut the white onions in long strands, not diced. Then dice the parsley and set aside for later.

4. Throw garlic, onions, and chanterelles in a large saucepan with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Cook on medium-high heat until all the liquid evaporates, around 10-15 minutes. (Could be even longer, this all depends on how wet your mushrooms are from washing them).

5. Meanwhile, boil water with a generous amount of salt in a large pot for the pasta.

6. Throw pasta into the pot for around 7 minutes. Al dente styled is always best, especially when mixing in hot pasta sauce later.

7. While waiting for pasta to cook, put the coconut milk and vegan cheez in a medium pot on medium heat to start condensing for the sauce.

8. When the pasta is finished cooking, scoop up 250ml of the starchy pasta water and put into the medium pot with coconut milk and cheez BEFORE straining the pasta. This will create a creamier and thicker pasta sauce.

9. Strain the pasta and add olive oil so the noodles don't clump together.

10. Turn up the pasta sauce heat to medium-high and let it boil for 10-15 minutes without a lid.

11. When the chanterelles, onions, and garlic are finished, mix into the strained pasta along with the cut up parsley.

12. When the pasta sauce is finished condensing and gets that thicker texture, add into the rest of the finished ingredients.

13. Garnish with some extra fresh parsley.

14. Enjoy after it cools down!

***The mushrooms absorb the salt quickly. I recommend ample amounts of salt and pepper to bring out the chanterelle's flavor***

This meal is ideal for those rainy tropical weather summer days when you want to be lazy and have a comforting meal!

Try out this recipe and prepare it for your loved ones this month! Tag @being.soulfull on Instagram with your finished product!

#veganliving #plantbased #cleaneating #seasonalproduce #summertime #mushrooms #chanterelle #easyrecipes #pastalover #buylocal #healthyrecipes #nutrition #vitaminD