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Creamy Chestnut Mushroom and Fresh Herb Pasta Salad

An easy pasta salad with chestnut mushrooms as the star of the show.

An easy pasta salad with chestnut mushrooms as the star of the show. It's the perfect dish to take on picnics or to serve at a BBQ. Messicani pasta with mushrooms and fresh herbs in a light creamy sauce. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Love of Mushrooms


I love mushrooms! 

You may have noticed that by now. I include them in so many recipes.

This hasn't always been the case. I hated them as a child , but I think that's because my Mum wasn't treating them with the respect they deserve.

The only way I remember her serving them was sliced, raw and squeaky in a salad. Just no!


When did my love affair with mushrooms begin? 


I can safely say it was when I moved away from home and became vegetarian.

That moment when I started to take more of an interest in food and started experimenting with recipes.

 I soon realised that mushrooms can be succulent and absolutely delicious as well as bringing substance to any dish. They are an important item in a vegetarian kitchen as they're versatile and kind to your budget.




chestnut mushrooms

Mushrooms are also nutritionally important in a veggie or vegan diet as they contain vitamins, provide protein, count as one of your five a day and contain almost no calories or fat, but loads of flavour.

Picnics


The weather has been so glorious lately we've been talking about making a picnic and taking it to the beach with us when we go on our long dog walks.

Walking really builds up an appetite. We're always starving when we get home and a picnic is such fun.

Picnics can be a bit boring though. Sandwiches, fruit and drinks are standard fare, but I like to take something a bit more exciting, so this pasta salad will be perfect.






The chestnut mushrooms are filling and full of flavour as I cook them with garlic, black pepper and wine to really intensify the flavour.

I've teamed these juicy mushrooms with Messicani pasta which is really easy to eat (stab with a fork) which is a consideration. You don't want to be chasing your pasta round your bowl.


An easy pasta salad with chestnut mushrooms as the star of the show. It's the perfect dish to take on picnics or to serve at a BBQ. Messicani pasta with mushrooms and fresh herbs in a light creamy sauce. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.


I'm also going to include some crusty bread, hummus, strawberries, ripe peaches and a few bottles of water for us and the dogs. But before I share the recipe with you, check out my top picnic tips.


An open white picnic basket full of cutlery, plates and blue and white linens

Top 5 Picnic Tips



  1. Freeze bottles of water overnight, they'll thaw as the day goes on and you'll be left with lovely chilled water. They will also keep the rest of the picnic cool.
  2. Use a tablecloth as a picnic blanket. It's light, doesn't take up much room and is much easier to wash and dry than a picnic rug.
  3. Use proper cutlery and napkins, it's a much nicer experience.
  4. Take baby wipes and napkins with you for spills and sticky fingers.
  5. Remember to take a bag for your rubbish and take it home with you.


 also check out my recipe index - Vegan BBQ Ideas & Recipes


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An easy pasta salad with chestnut mushrooms as the star of the show.  #pastasalad #pasta #salad #veganpastasalad #veganpasta #vegansalad #mushrooms #freshherbs #herbs




print recipe
An easy pasta salad with chestnut mushrooms as the star of the show. It's the perfect dish to take on picnics or to serve at a BBQ. Messicani pasta with mushrooms and fresh herbs in a light creamy sauce. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
Creamy Chestnut Mushroom and Fresh Herb Pasta Salad
An easy pasta salad with chestnut mushrooms as the star of the show.

It's the perfect dish to take on picnics or to serve at a BBQ. Messicani pasta with mushrooms and fresh herbs in a light creamy sauce. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
Ingredients
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • 250g chestnut mushrooms
  • a slosh of white wine
  • a handful of fresh chives, chopped
  • a handful of flat leaf parsley
  • a good grinding of black pepper
  • 100ml soy or single cream
  • 300g Messicani pasta
Instructions
1. Boil the pasta according to the packet instructions until al dente, then rinse under cold water until completely cold. This will result in firm, glossy pasta that's perfect for pasta salad.2. Saute the mushrooms gently in the olive oil with the garlic until soft. Add a splosh of wine when the mushrooms are nearly cooked, then add the fresh herbs and season with black pepper. Cook gently until the liquid has evaporated 3. Pour the pasta back in the pan and mix through the cream and mushrooms.4. Keep in an airtight tub in your fridge until you need it. This will happily keep for a few days. Just give it a good stir before serving.5. Enjoy!
Details
Total time:
Yield: Serves 4-6




Check out - Perfect Vegan BBQ -Recipes and Tips


also try Vegan Macaroni Salad (quick and creamy) from my other blog The Vegan Lunch Box 

Here are a few more fabulous mushroom recipes for you to try.



A selection of vegetarian picnic food


Mushroom Pasties - Utterly Scrummy Food for Families


I created this recipe for the Just Add Mushrooms campaign. For more mushroom recipes check out the Just Add Mushrooms website. You can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter or follow the conversation with @MoreToMushrooms #MTMSummer




Disclosure: I developed this recipe for the Mushroom Bureau. I was not expected to write a positive review and any opinions expressed are my own.

49 comments

  1. This pasta salad looks like just the thing i'd like to tuck into on a picnic, rather than the same old boring soggy sandwiches! I hated mushrooms as a child, but like you, once i'd taken interest in cooking as an adult they were something of a revelation. Loving the picnic tips Jac... you must be well practiced!

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    1. Haha yes when the Scottish weather permits, although it's been gorgeous the last few weeks. This pasta salad is really good.

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  2. Oh my! You know how I adore mushrooms. Lovely dish and pictures.

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    1. Yes I know. Another thing we have in common. Love them! Oh and thanks :)

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  3. This looks beautiful. I think I'd enjoy it as a hot dish too :) I used to hate mushrooms as well but in the last few years I've trained myself to like loads of veg I hated previously.

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    1. Good for you Laura. Yes it is good hot too, but I'd add a little veg stock for a stronger sauce.

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  4. These chestnut mushrooms look a lovely golden colour in this salad - would make a fab addition to a picnic! What a lovely hamper too :)

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  5. Love it! I grew up HATING mushrooms, but now I LOVE them! (My tummy..not so much) so I have to eat them sparingly...but I do love them so!

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    1. Oh that's a shame, just when you started to love them.

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  6. Love simple and delicious dinner ideas like this. :-)

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  7. What a lovely pasta dish and I like the idea of having it for a picnic. Your picnic tips are really useful too.

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  8. I love having lots of different salads to enjoy at a picnic, this looks delicious and different to the usual fare! Haha so true about choosing the pasta shape wisely - or you end up playing chase round your plate! Very jealous of your lovely hamper!

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    1. I'm glad you get the pasta thing and yes it's a rather nice hamper. Proper glasses and cutlery, which is much nicer to use.

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  9. Great picnic tips, the baby wipes are so important aren't they and yes, proper cutlery is a definite must! I hadn't thought about freezing bottles of water, what a great idea! I adore mushrooms too and I can imagine this is a perfect salad for a picnic.

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    1. I'm glad my picnic ideas inspired you and hope you try the pasta salad.

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  10. This is just what I would love to eat on a sunny summer picnic. I can't remeber not liking mushrooms but I can see why they are a difficlult thing for kids to like as they do have a strong flavour. I think this pasta salad would convince any mushroom hater to enjoy them!

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    1. Yes Cooper is funny about them, although he has asked me a few times to add them to his pizza, but I have too cut them up very small.

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  11. I've been looking at this pasta popping up in my feed and thinking how delicious it looks. Simple recipes are often the best!

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    1. Awww thanks Janice. It is simple, but the wine and fresh herbs really elevate the flavour.

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  12. Me too, I utterly adore mushrooms and we have them with pasta very often. Delicious!

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  13. Gosh this sounds lovely, and so simple to make too! Pinned to try later!

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  14. I love mushrooms and luckily so does my boyfriend (I bought him a mushroom growing kit for his birthday!) so we have them a few times a week. They go well with so many things, especially pasta. Yum.

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    1. A sensible man! And I'm with you, they are so good.

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  15. I also have a major love affair with mushrooms. I was actually just in the kitchen thinking how much I want mushrooms for dinner. This looks like the perfect recipe!

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    1. Hehe, sorry, I can't have helped that craving much.

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  16. Mushrooms are such wonderful veggies, aren't they? And so perfect with pasta! Lovely recipe, Jacqueline - thank you!

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  17. I love mushrooms too!! This pasta dish looks amazing! Drooling!

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  18. I'm a huge mushroom fan too. I eat them several times a week. Thanks for the fun picnic ideas!

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  19. Till now I have made only one dish with mashroom that is mashroom masala!! This is new to me! Sound simple and delicious!

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  20. This would be ideal to keep in a tub in the fridge for a packed lunch - ldeal for a tough day at work!

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  21. I love pasta and mushrooms, hot or cold! You are definitely onto a winner here!

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  22. Such a pretty looking dish. I LOVE Mushrooms and we often use it in curry's too. I'm gonna try this soon.

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  23. Yum! I love mushrooms :) though just like you, I hated them as a kid. Now I need to convert my fiancee so we can enjoy this lovely pasta together

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    1. Yes definitely. He maybe hasn't got beyond the childhood thing yet.

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  24. Mushrooms are my fave! Your pasta looks and sounds _so_ yummy. I need a batch and I'm not sharing!

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    1. Me to and thanks, although you have to share, it's too good not to.

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I love reading comments, so thank you for taking the time to leave one. Unfortunately, I'm bombarded with spam, so I've turned on comment moderation. I'll publish your comments as soon as I can and respond to them. Don't panic, they will disappear when you hit publish. Jac x