Orecchiette with Morel Mushrooms and Ramps

This recipe for orecchiette with morel mushrooms and ramps is one of the best ways we know of to take advantage of spring’s best foraging. The addition of a little garlic, white wine, and lemon zest gives you a dish with tons of taste.

Two white ceramic bowls filled with orecchiette with morel mushrooms and ramps and a dollop of mascarpone.

This orecchiette pasta pairs two foods you might find on a spring hike: morels and ramps, the latter being the wild leeks that grow from South Carolina to Canada. Both have the fresh earthiness of spring, tempered here by the richness of Grana Padano and mascarpone. Buying morels can get expensive, so if you can only afford a few, you can make up for it by adding another portobello or two.–Louisa Shafia

LC Ravishing Ramps Note

You gotta get ramps while you can. Trust us.

Orecchiette with Morel Mushrooms and Ramps

Two white ceramic bowls filled with orecchiette with morel mushrooms and ramps and a dollop of mascarpone.
This orecchiette with morel mushrooms and ramps combines earthiness, richness, and all the brightness of spring into one dish.

Prep 10 mins
Cook 25 mins
Total 35 mins
Mains
Italian
4 servings
462 kcal
5 / 2 votes
Print RecipeBuy the Lucid Food cookbook

Want it? Click it.

Ingredients 

  • 20 ramps
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 cups dried orecchiette (or small shells or another bite-size pasta)
  • 4 portobello mushrooms diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 15 morel mushrooms quartered lengthwise
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 cup grated Grana Padano or pecorino Romano cheese
  • Minced flat-leaf parsley leaves for garnish
  • 4 tablespoons mascarpone

Directions
 

  • Trim the roots from the ramps with a paring knife, and remove any loose outer layers clinging to the bulbs. Wash the ramps a few times in warm water to remove the dirt. Coarsely chop the leaves and set them aside. Slice the bulbs down the middle and set aside.
  • Add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil to a large pot of salted water and bring to a boil. When the water is boiling, stir in the orecchiette and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes.
  • Heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat and add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add the ramp bulbs and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the portobellos and cook until soft, stirring often, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and morels and cook for 2 minutes more. Pour in the wine and simmer gently, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
  • When the pasta is ready, drain it, reserving 1/4 cup of the cooking water. Add the pasta and the cooking water to the mushrooms along with the ramp leaves, lemon zest, and nutmeg, and cook on high for 2 minutes.
  • Serve the pasta piping hot with a shower of grated Grana Padano on top. Garnish with the minced parsley and season with freshly ground black pepper. Finish each serving with a tablespoon dollop of mascarpone spooned on top.
Print RecipeBuy the Lucid Food cookbook

Want it? Click it.

Show Nutrition

Serving: 1portionCalories: 462kcal (23%)Carbohydrates: 47g (16%)Protein: 12g (24%)Fat: 24g (37%)Saturated Fat: 7g (44%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 22mg (7%)Sodium: 105mg (5%)Potassium: 622mg (18%)Fiber: 5g (21%)Sugar: 6g (7%)Vitamin A: 1511IU (30%)Vitamin C: 9mg (11%)Calcium: 170mg (17%)Iron: 8mg (44%)

#leitesculinaria on Instagram If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #LeitesCulinaria. We’d love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Originally published April 22, 2010

HUNGRY FOR MORE?

#leitesculinaria on Instagram If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #LeitesCulinaria. We'd love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Thank you for bringing this recipe back! It is absolutely delicious!! All of the flavors work perfectly together! I made it last year and recently I just tracked down some ramps and morels to make again! I cannot wait!

Have something to say?

Then tell us. Have a picture you'd like to add to your comment? Attach it below. And as always, please take a gander at our comment policy before posting.

Rate this recipe!

Have you tried this recipe? Let us know what you think.

Upload a picture of your dish