Golden Mushroom & Sausage Pasta Bake

1. Prepare Bread Crumbs Mixture

In a medium bowl, combine the Panko-style bread crumbs with 2 ounces of the grated Parmesan cheese, half of the chopped parsley, half of the minced chives, a quarter of the minced shallots, and a quarter of the minced garlic. Drizzle in the extra-virgin olive oil and massage the ingredients together with your hands until everything is well mixed. Season with a pinch of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.

2. Cook Sausage

Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium heat and melt the unsalted butter. Add the Italian sausage, breaking it up with a potato masher or wooden spoon, and cook until it’s browned and no longer pink, about 7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage to a small bowl, leaving the rendered fat in the skillet.

3. Cook Mushrooms

With the skillet still on medium-high heat, add the sliced mushrooms. Cook, stirring frequently, until the mushrooms have released their moisture and are well-browned, about 10 minutes. Add the remaining shallots and garlic to the skillet and cook for about 30 seconds until they become fragrant. Stir in the soy sauce and lemon juice, mixing everything together.

4. Make Roux and Sauce

Sprinkle the all-purpose flour over the mushroom mixture and cook for about a minute, stirring constantly, until a thin film forms on the bottom of the pan. Gradually whisk in the chicken stock and heavy cream, bringing the mixture to a simmer. Continue cooking until the sauce has thickened, then stir in the remaining Parmesan cheese, parsley, chives, and the cooked sausage. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

5. Cook Pasta

While letting the sauce develop its flavors, adjust the oven rack to about 10 inches below the broiler element and preheat the broiler. In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until it's just shy of al dente. Reserve one cup of the pasta cooking liquid, then drain the pasta.

6. Combine and Broil

Combine the cooked pasta with the mushroom mixture in the skillet, using the reserved pasta water to adjust the consistency if necessary. Spread the prepared bread crumbs mixture evenly over the top. Place the skillet under the broiler and broil for 2-3 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. Keep an eye on it and rotate the pan if needed to ensure even browning.