HEARTY SUNDAY NIGHT PASTA

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Hearty Sunday Night Pasta image

This dish is hearty and stick-to-your-ribs good! But it is also VERY sophisticated, so feel free to take it into the rest of the week, or even present it to your lucky dinner guests! Sorry I didn't get a photo of this to post--we ate ours too fast to take one!

Provided by Connie Tucker

Categories     Pasta

Time 30m

Number Of Ingredients 11

4 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp butter
1 c thinly sliced vidalia onions
8 large mushrooms, sliced
1/4 c kalamata (greek) olives, pitted and quartered lengthwise
2 clove garlic (or 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
2 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp basil, dried (substitute fresh, if you have it)
1/2 c feta cheese, crumbled
1 lb box medium shells
salt and pepper to taste

Steps:

  • 1. Set a large pot of salted water to boil for the pasta. Slice onions, mushrooms, and olives. Chop garlic and set aside.
  • 2. Heat a large frying pan over medium heat, add oil and butter. When butter bubbles, add onions and a bit of salt to help them soften. Stir well to coat. Reduce heat to medium low. Cover partially and continue to cook, stirring often, for about 20 minutes until onions are caramelized. You can add a bit of sugar to help the process along.
  • 3. When water boils, cook pasta 1 minute less than al dente according to box directions. Reserve 1/2 cup or so of pasta water. Drain and keep warm.
  • 4. Add garlic to caramelized onions, then mushrooms and fennel seeds. Saute for about two minutes till mushrooms are softened. Add olives, basil, and 1/3 to 1/2 cup reserved pasta water, then add all the cooked pasta to the pot. Stir well, turn up heat, cover and bring quickly to a gentle boil.
  • 5. Remove from heat and gently fold in feta cheese taking care not to break up chunks if possible. Taste and adjust salt and pepper.
  • 6. Serve with a hearty Burgundy or Cabernet Sauvignon wine and crusty Italian bread.

CUPCAKE BOMBER25
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This pasta dish is the perfect comfort food for a cold night. It's hearty and filling, and the flavors are just amazing.


Talha Ansari
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This recipe is a keeper! I will definitely be making it again and again.


Elizabeth Rose
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This pasta dish is a great way to get your kids to eat their vegetables. My kids loved the mushrooms and spinach.


Timothy Lenasi
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I'm always looking for new pasta recipes, and this one definitely fits the bill! The combination of flavors is amazing and the pasta is cooked to perfection.


Shahbaz Sskss
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I made this dish in my slow cooker and it turned out perfectly! I just threw all the ingredients in the slow cooker and let it cook on low for 8 hours.


Jypsie
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I'm a vegetarian, so I omitted the chicken from this recipe. It was still very flavorful and satisfying.


Fletcher Herbert
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I'm allergic to mushrooms, so I substituted them with zucchini. It turned out just as delicious!


Caroline Prater
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This recipe is way too complicated. I ended up spending more time in the kitchen than I wanted to.


Rohomot Ali
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I followed the recipe exactly, but my pasta turned out mushy. I think I may have overcooked it.


Jam Danish Ijaz
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This pasta dish is a bit bland for my taste. I would recommend adding some more spices or herbs to give it more flavor.


Mohamed Conteh
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I made this dish for a potluck and it was a huge success! Everyone loved it and asked for the recipe. I will definitely be making it again.


Md Afif Rayhan
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This pasta dish is a great way to use up leftover chicken or turkey. I also like to add some chopped sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavor.


Debu Ray
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I love this recipe! It's so versatile and you can add or remove ingredients to suit your taste. I've made it with different types of pasta, vegetables, and meats, and it's always delicious.


Chad Anderson
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This pasta dish was easy to make and it turned out great! I followed the recipe exactly and it was perfect. I will definitely be making this again.


Haiderali Haiderali
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I'm not a big fan of mushrooms, but I decided to try this recipe anyway. I'm so glad I did! The mushrooms were cooked perfectly and they added a delicious umami flavor to the dish.


JOSEPH OBUTU
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This pasta dish was a hit with my family! The flavors were rich and comforting, and the pasta was cooked perfectly. I especially loved the addition of the mushrooms and spinach.