Farfelle with Sham Clam Sauce

During the weeks surrounding the birth of my son over 9 year ago, my mother stayed with us and cooked delicious and extremely healthy meals. Farfelle with Sham Clam Sauce was one of them that she made when Grant was about two days old. She invented this recipe years ago when she was working. At that time, she was a strict vegetarian (now she eats chicken, fish, and sometimes pork) and this dish reminded her of traditional linguini with white clam sauce; hence the name "SHAM CLAM Sauce". I have such a vivid recollection of eating this dish back then and have been cooking it regularly ever since. It's so simple to make and if you have mushrooms in the fridge, it's an easy thing to whip up.

Farfelle with Sham Clam Sauce

Ingredients

1 pound farfelle

About 8 ounces mushrooms-baby portabella mushrooms,chopped fine

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

About ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped fine

4 or 5 chopped shallots

Freshly grated Romano cheese to taste (I use a lot)

3-5 cloves garlic

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1)In a small skillet, sauté the shallots, most of the garlic, mushrooms, and about half of the parsley in a couple of tablespoons of olive oil. Saute on heat high enough that mushrooms don’t lose their juice but not so high that the garlic browns. Salt and pepper to taste (not too much salt because cheese is salty). 2)Meanwhile, cook farfelle in boiling salted water until al dente. Toss mushroom mixture with farfelle, then add the rest of the uncooked garlic and parsley and about 1/3 cup cheese and toss again. Serve with additional cheese on the side.

If you are looking for extra protein, even though portabella mushrooms are a significant source of protein, feel free to add some toasted pine nuts. Or, serve with a side salad incorporating either beans or nuts. Also, whole wheat pasta is an option, too. Side note: I use more mushrooms than the recipe calls for, however, I LOVE mushrooms and boy, are they good for you!

Portabella mushrooms are low in Sodium, and very low in Saturated Fat and Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Protein, Thiamin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Magnesium, Zinc and Manganese, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Riboflavin, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Phosphorus, Potassium, Copper and Selenium. Excellent for runners!