Chicken Mushroom Pasta Delight

1. Heat Olive Oil

Begin by heating two tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

2. Sauté Shallots

Add the chopped shallot or small onion to the skillet. Stir occasionally until they turn translucent and release their sweet fragrance, which should take about three to five minutes.

3. Add Garlic

Next, stir in the minced garlic. The garlic only needs about thirty seconds to a minute to become fragrant. Be careful not to let it burn.

4. Cook Mushrooms

Add the sliced mushrooms to the skillet. Cook the mushrooms, stirring frequently. As they cook, they'll release their moisture and begin to brown, which deepens their flavor. This process should take around five to seven minutes.

5. Cook Pasta

While the mushrooms are cooking, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add half a pound of cut pasta, such as gemelli or penne, or long pasta broken into bits. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until it is al dente.

6. Combine Pasta and Mushrooms

Once the mushrooms have browned and the pasta is cooking, it's time to bring everything together. If needed, add a bit more olive oil to the skillet to keep things from sticking. Drain the pasta, reserving a cup of the pasta water, and add the pasta to the skillet with the mushrooms. Toss everything together.

7. Season and Serve

Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper. If the pasta seems dry, gradually add some of the reserved pasta water until the desired consistency is reached. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh herbs if you have them on hand.