Matsutake Pasta with Miso Butter

What are Matsutake Mushrooms?

Matsutake mushrooms are an edible fungi that are cherished for their unique flavor and aroma. The mushrooms originated in Asia and are a prized ingredient in Japanese cuisine. Today, they can also be found in forests of the United States and Canada.

Matsutake mushrooms are some of the rarest and most expensive edible mushrooms in the world. They grow at the roots of pine forests but are often threatened by a species of invasive worms. They are also extremely difficult to cultivate. Should you be lucky enough to get your hands on some matsutakes, cherish the moment! For mushroom lovers, it's a true delight.

What Do Matsutake Mushrooms Taste Like?

Matsutake mushrooms have a firm, meaty white flesh and a pungent, earthy flavor and aroma. When fresh, these mushrooms can also have a cinnamon-like spice. These mushrooms are rare, expensive and best prepared simply to highlight their unique flavors. For some, they are the pinnacle of fine Fall cuisine.

In Japanese cuisine, it is common to see these mushrooms prepared simply in a clear broth (like dashi) or steamed into rice. Some may avoid using dairy with this ingredient but, personally, we love this recipe that pairs the earthy flavors with a simple miso butter and fresh pasta.

How To Clean Matsutake Mushrooms

Like other varietals of mushrooms, matsutakes will likely be covered in dirt and need to be thoroughly cleaned! When fresh from the ground, I like to clean moist soil from mushrooms with a dry pastry brush.

Since these mushrooms were harvested a few days prior to cleaning, I had to use a damp paper towel to remove the dirt and debris. Matsutake mushrooms are firm, and can handle a decent scrubbing. Try to avoid running mushrooms under water, unless completely necessary. (Dry immediately, if you do.)

Be sure to clean under the cap of the mushroom, too. If very dry and hardened soil is present, you may need to use a sharp paring knife to carefully peel the mushroom stem. Use this as a last resort. Be cautious and remove as little of the mushroom as possible.

Finally, you’ll want to remove the dried and hardened end of the matsutake. (The piece that was deepest in the ground and hardest to clean.)

Ingredients

• Matsutake Mushrooms (Also known as pine mushrooms) - Ours were foraged from the forests of Maine by my cousin, Mushroom Jeff. Such a treat!
• White Miso
• Butter
• Pasta - We used fresh pasta from our Homemade Italian Pappardelle recipe. You can use any shape fresh or dried pasta. We recommend using a long and wide noodle like papardelle, tagliatelle or fettuccine.
• Pasta Water - Don't dump the starchy cooking water! It will help to make this miso butter sauce silky smooth.
• Scallions

How To Make This Recipe

1. To highlight the flavors of the matsutake throughout this dish, I’ve incorporated them in two ways. First, the stems are finely shaved and added directly to the pasta. The nearly raw texture mimics the papardelle pasta and perfumes the dish with rich aromatics. Second, the sliced mushroom caps are lightly seared and served over top. The seared matsutake is thickly cut and highlights the mushrooms’ meaty texture.

The way the mushrooms are cleaned and cut are the most important steps of this recipe. Be mindful, and take your time - especially when thinly slicing the stems.

6. Meanwhile, in a separate pan, sauté the sliced mushroom caps in a dry pan over medium high heat until lightly seared and aromatic. Season with a sprinkle of salt, to taste.

7. Serve the seared matsutake caps over big bowls of the miso butter pasta. Finish with cracked black pepper and chopped scallion, as desired. Enjoy with a glass of dry sake. Itadikimasu!

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