This Mushroom Miso Pasta is a simple yet flavorful dish that combines the umami richness of miso with savory mushrooms and a buttery garlic sauce. Ready in just 25 minutes, it’s a creamy pasta without any cream, featuring seared mushrooms that add depth to every bite. With a vegan option, this dish can be enjoyed by all!

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

• 8 oz pasta (spaghetti, linguine, or your choice)

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 1 lb mushrooms, sliced (button, cremini, or mixed)

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 tbsp miso paste (white or yellow for a lighter flavor)

• 2 tbsp vegan butter (or regular butter)

• 1 tbsp soy sauce

• ½ cup vegetable broth

• 1 tsp sesame oil

• Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

• Chopped green onions or parsley for garnish (optional)

Directions

1. Cook the Pasta: Cook pasta according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water and drain.

2. Cook the Mushrooms: In a large pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook for 5-7 minutes until golden and softened. Add garlic and sauté for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant.

3. Make the Sauce: Stir in miso paste and butter, and let the butter melt. Add soy sauce, vegetable broth, and sesame oil, and bring to a simmer. Let the sauce reduce for 2-3 minutes until it thickens slightly.

4. Combine: Add the cooked pasta to the pan, tossing to coat in the miso sauce. If needed, add some reserved pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency.

5. Serve: Top with freshly cracked black pepper and garnish with green onions or parsley. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Nutrients (Per Serving)

• Calories: 380 kcal

• Carbohydrates: 50g

• Protein: 9g

• Fat: 15g

  • Saturated Fat: 3g

• Cholesterol: 5mg

• Sodium: 930mg

• Potassium: 600mg

• Fiber: 5g

• Sugar: 5g

The Pasta: A Simple Base for Rich Flavors

The foundation of this Mushroom Miso Pasta is, of course, the pasta itself. You can use spaghetti, linguine, or any pasta of your choice, depending on what you have on hand or prefer. The pasta is cooked according to the package instructions, and it’s important to reserve a bit of pasta water before draining. This starchy water is essential for adjusting the sauce’s consistency later on, ensuring that it clings to the pasta and coats it perfectly.

The pasta serves as a simple yet effective base that lets the miso sauce and mushrooms take center stage. It soaks up the umami-packed sauce beautifully, creating a flavorful and satisfying dish that’s comforting but not overwhelming.

The Mushrooms: Earthy and Savory

Mushrooms are the star ingredient in this dish, adding an earthy, meaty texture and an intense savory flavor. Whether you choose button mushrooms, cremini mushrooms, or a mix, their natural umami complements the miso paste, which brings its own richness to the dish. When sautéed in olive oil, the mushrooms release their moisture and caramelize slightly, deepening their flavor and making them wonderfully tender. This searing process creates the foundation for the dish, as the mushrooms soak in the garlic and miso sauce.

The mushrooms add a satisfying texture to the dish, providing a contrast to the creamy pasta while infusing each bite with rich, earthy flavors. Their ability to absorb the flavors of the miso paste, soy sauce, and vegetable broth makes them a perfect pairing with the pasta.

The Miso Sauce: Creamy Without the Cream

The sauce in this dish is where the magic happens. It’s creamy and flavorful without any cream—thanks to the combination of miso paste, vegetable broth, and a touch of sesame oil. Miso paste is the primary source of umami in this dish, and it adds a slightly salty, earthy flavor that perfectly complements the savory mushrooms. You can choose between white or yellow miso paste depending on the flavor profile you prefer. White miso is milder and slightly sweeter, while yellow miso has a bit more depth.

The addition of soy sauce enhances the savory flavor, while the vegetable broth brings moisture and balance to the sauce. Sesame oil adds a nutty fragrance and richness, elevating the sauce’s complexity and tying everything together.

The sauce is simmered briefly to allow the flavors to meld and thicken slightly, creating a velvety consistency that coats the pasta and mushrooms beautifully. This simple yet rich sauce is what makes the dish so satisfying, without the heaviness of a traditional cream-based sauce.

Assembling the Dish: Toss and Serve

Once the pasta is cooked and the sauce is ready, it’s time to bring everything together. After draining the pasta, it’s added to the pan with the miso sauce and mushrooms. The key is to toss the pasta in the sauce, ensuring each strand is coated in the rich, savory goodness of the miso. If the sauce is too thick, a splash of the reserved pasta water can be added to loosen it up and create a silkier texture.

This process ensures that the pasta absorbs all of the flavors of the sauce, making every bite as flavorful as the last. The final step is to season the dish with freshly cracked black pepper and garnish with chopped green onions or parsley for a burst of freshness.

Garnishing: Fresh and Flavorful Touches

Garnishing the Mushroom Miso Pasta adds a pop of color and freshness, enhancing both the visual appeal and the flavor. Chopped green onions add a mild, crisp bite that contrasts nicely with the creamy sauce, while parsley provides a fresh, herbal note that brightens the dish. Both garnishes complement the richness of the miso sauce without overwhelming the flavors of the mushrooms.

The garnish is simple but elevates the overall experience of the dish, providing a final touch of freshness that balances the savory depth of the pasta.

Vegan Option: Easily Adaptable

This Mushroom Miso Pasta is easily adaptable for a vegan diet. By using vegan butter in place of regular butter, you can make the entire dish plant-based while still maintaining the creamy texture and rich flavor. The miso paste and soy sauce are already vegan, and vegetable broth provides a plant-based alternative to traditional meat broths. The result is a vegan-friendly dish that everyone can enjoy without sacrificing flavor.

Serving Suggestions

Mushroom Miso Pasta is a satisfying dish on its own, but it can be served with a variety of sides for a more well-rounded meal. A fresh green salad with a light vinaigrette would pair beautifully with the rich pasta, providing a refreshing contrast to the savory flavors. You could also serve the pasta with roasted vegetables or a side of crusty bread for dipping into the leftover sauce.

For drinks, a crisp white wine such as Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay would pair nicely with the dish, complementing the umami of the miso and the earthiness of the mushrooms. If you prefer a non-alcoholic beverage, a refreshing iced tea or sparkling water with a slice of lemon would balance the rich flavors beautifully.

Conclusion

Mushroom Miso Pasta is a flavorful and easy-to-make dish that combines the rich umami of miso, the savory depth of mushrooms, and a creamy garlic butter sauce. In just 25 minutes, you can create a satisfying and hearty meal that’s perfect for any occasion. The balance of textures—creamy pasta, tender mushrooms, and rich sauce—along with the versatility of a vegan option, makes this dish a winner for all. Whether you’re looking for a quick weeknight dinner or something a bit more special, this Mushroom Miso Pasta is sure to impress with its comforting, savory flavors.