October 20, 2020
It was one of those busy, sports-filled nights and I realized that I had forgotten to defrost some meat for dinner. No worries at all! I grabbed some bacon and veggies from the fridge and put together this easy pasta dinner. It literally cooks as you are waiting for the pasta to boil! And the brie cheese melts into the most perfect sauce for the bacon, arugula and mushrooms. The favors really come together in this simple pasta dish! Who doesn't love a quick and easy meal?! Pasta is always a hit in this house!
Pasta with Creamy Brie, Bacon, Arugula and Mushroom Sauce
Ingredients:
16 oz. bacon, diced
2 tbsp bacon fat (you can sub olive oil)
8 oz. mushrooms, sliced
3/4 cup onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 cup white wine
8 oz. Brie cheese (with the rind cut off and diced)
1/2 tsp. Kosher salt
Fresh cracked pepper to taste
5 oz. baby arugula (or baby spinach)
1/4 pasta water
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
Optional: Red pepper flakes
16 oz. Pasta of choice, cooked according to directions
Cook the bacon in a large skillet.
When the bacon pieces are nice and crispy, remove them to a plate lined with a paper towel.
Leave 2 tbsp of bacon fat in the pan. Add the mushrooms and onions to the skillet and cook over medium high heat.
Cook until they have softened and then add the white wine to deglaze a pan. Use a spoon to really scrape up the bottom of the pan so that those bacon flavors get incorporated into the sauce.
When the wine reduces, turn down the heat to medium and add the garlic. Cook for 45 seconds, stirring constantly.
Add the arugula and 1/4 cup of the water that the pasta is cooking in.
Stir until the arugula has wilted. Then add the brie cheese, stirring constantly.
When the brie cheese has melted, add the milk and stir until it is a creamy sauce.
Season with salt and pepper to taste. And add a little bit of red pepper flakes if you would like to add a little heat to the sauce.
Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and stir.
Add the cooked bacon and Parmesan cheese to the sauce and toss until it is combined and serve.
This pasta dish absolutely hit the spot! The brie cheese adds such a wonderful and unique flavor to the sauce and compliments the bacon, arugula and mushrooms perfectly! I love it when a new recipe comes together so easy and fast! This delicious pasta dish was meant to be!