Description

Good Italian pasta doesn't have to be difficult to make or take a lot of time. You will want to savor every bite of this simple dish of linguini, mushrooms, olive oil and garlic. Serve with a side salad and garlic toast, if desired.

Ingredients

• 1 lb. linguini or spaghetti
• 1/4 c. pasta cooking water
• ½ c. extra-virgin olive oil
• 3-4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 lb. mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
• ½ t. salt
• black pepper, to taste
• 8-10 large basil leaves, sliced into thin strips
• 2 cups baby spinach spinach, if desired
• Parmiggiano cheese, shaved or grated (preferably fresh)

Steps

1. Cook linguini according to package directions, 9-13 minutes; reserve 1/4 cup pasta water; drain.
2. Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet; add garlic, mushrooms, salt and pepper; saute 5-7 minutes. (The mushrooms should be soft and the garlic golden.) Add reserved pasta water to the skillet; stir to incorporate. Add spinach to the skillet, if using; cook for a few minutes until it begins to wilt. Remove skillet form heat.
3. Add drained pasta to the skillet; stir to coat with olive oil mixture.