Why not serve our Bruschetta as a delicious starter to your pasta! If you prefer a robust tomato sauce with your pasta, take a look at our Tagliatelle with Pancetta, Basil and Mozzarella. Over the years we’ve spent many date nights at home instead of going out, which is pretty typical for parents with young children. And although we missed the excitement of leaving the house and joining the buzzy world for a night we made sure the food at home was always restaurant worthy. Special nights call for special food, right? I want my date night food to be quick and easy. But it should preferably look and taste like it came from a Michelin star restaurant. This creamy pasta dish is something we prepare often. It combines comfort and elegance in one simple recipe. It’s no surprise that variations of this recipe are peppered throughout this website. Pasta with pancetta and peas is one of them. Chicken and Bacon Pasta is another favourite. Or you can add a touch of tomatoes and have another tasty number in the form of Prawn Pasta with Tomato Cream Sauce. And it all starts with this basic Pasta Cream Sauce. Once you master it, there is no stopping you. My point is this recipe is very versatile. Add any ingredients you love and enjoy your Italian inspired dinner 20 minutes later. Yes, it’s that simple.
Creamy Pasta Recipe
This pasta cooked with bacon, portobello mushrooms and truffle oil is so straightforward, anyone can make it! Tagliatelle tossed with heavy cream, bacon, Portobello mushrooms and Parmesan cheese. Normally a dish like this would be made with garlic, but I didn’t want that on a date night! Instead, and to make it extra special, I drizzled the dish with a couple of teaspoons of truffle oil. You can skip the oil if it’s not your cup of tea. Truffle oil is an ingredient impossible to describe if you’ve never had it before. After you have your first taste or a sniff, you will recognise its beautiful aroma anywhere. Earthy and luxurious. Just the thing to take your date night into the realm of the magical.
What Truffle Oil To Buy
There are two types of truffle oil: Black Truffle Oil and White Truffle Oil. Black tends to have a stronger, earthy flavour. This is the one I used in this recipe. Whichever truffle you choose to buy, the main thing to watch out for whether or not it’s real. There are many oils on the market that are fake. They are flavoured with a synthetic flavour of truffles concocted in a lab. The best way to tell if you are buying the real thing is to look at the ingredient list. Avoid anything that lists “truffle flavour” or “truffle aroma”. Real truffle oil should have “truffle” in the ingredient list and better yet, truffle bits floating at the bottom of the bottle. It’s important to mention that even real truffle oil has an expiration date, so if you don’t use it often enough it will simple stop smelling like truffles. To avoid that, I buy a very small bottle.
Serving suggestions
I’m pretty happy serving a pasta dish all on its own, but there are a few things you can add to make date night even more special! A lovely Italian charcuterie platter is a stunning way to start, as is a selection of crostini or bruschetta. That’s appetizers taken care of! Side dishes served with a creamy, hearty pasta like this should be nice and fresh. I would reach for a panzanella salad or a insalata caprese. Both are full of fresh flavours that will cut right through the creamy pasta sauce!
Storage and leftovers
As great as pasta is, it just doesn’t keep all that well as leftovers. If you do have some extra, keep it in the fridge in an airtight container for not more than 3 days. Any longer and the pasta will get soggy. The best way to reheat is in the microwave. Avoid freezing as the pasta will get unpleasantly soggy as it keeps absorbing the sauce.
More creamy pasta recipes
Creamy Salmon Pasta with Mixed Greens Orzo Pasta with Roasted Butternut Squash Spinach Ricotta Pasta with Lemon Butter Chicken Easy Carbonara
