Saturday, March 24, 2012

Spagetti with Mushroom and Leeks in Sake Sauce

Saw some really nice pretty leeks in the supermarket the other day and can't help but put them in my grocery basket. I love leeks for their mild oniony flavor and their cool name. I wasn't sure what to do with them that night. If leeks is the male lead for tonight's show, then I know I needed a strong female lead. Mushrooms and leeks pair easily and well together. So got some crimini (i.e. baby portobello). Then got a plum tomato for a splash of color for the overall dish. Then instead of using traditional white wine for a white wine sauce, I thought...why not use sake instead? I still have some left at home. :).


Ingredients (serves 2):
1. 1 stalk leek, sliced about 1/4-inch width wise, then washed and drained
2. 2 cups crimini mushrooms, sliced
3. 1 plum tomato, seeded and diced
4. 3 cloves garlic, minced
5. 1 cup sake
6. Salt and pepper to taste
7. A few spritz of grapeseed oil
8. Flaxseed spagetti (or your favorite pasta), cooked to almost al dente (pasta water reserved)

Method:
1. Heat grapeseed oil in a saute pan on high heat and saute mushrooms for about 2 minutes before adding leeks and continue to saute till mushrooms are caramalized and leeks are softened. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Add minced garlic and mix well. Cook for another minute before adding sake to deglaze the pan.
3. Once the sizzle is gone, add tomatoes and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes before adding cooked pasta and about 1/4 cup pasta water. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Cook for another 3 to 4 minutes till pasta is al dente.
5. Plate and ready to serve!

Nutritional value of this recipe:
Depending on how much pasta you use for 1 serving, the total amount of calories in 1 serving of this recipe can range from 450 to 525 calories. The rest of the ingredients used in this recipe will provide about 2 g of fiber per serving but you can always up the fiber content of this dish by choosing whole grain pasta. 1 serving of this recipe also provides at least 20%* of your daily required iron and 20%* of your daily required vitamin A, 18% of your daily required vitamin C and about 7%* of your daily required calcium. Not bad for a simple weeknight dinner without meat!

* based on a 2,000 calories a day diet


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