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    Home » Recipes » Pasta

    Pasta Al Gorgonzola

    Published Jun 27, 2022, modified Jun 29, 2022 by Nicole Shroff / This site uses cookies. See the privacy policy linked in my footer. This site generates income via ads/ Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe
    Pin with two images of pasta gorgonzola in blue bowl.

    Pasta with gorgonzola sauce is rich, full of flavour and wonderful comfort food. It is super easy to prepare requiring few ingredients making it perfect for an easy weeknight dinner, date night or last minute get-togethers.

    Spaghetti with gorgonzola sauce and sliced mushrooms in blue bowl.

    Cheese lovers can’t get enough of this gorgonzola cream sauce whether it’s mixed with pasta, poured over a juicy steak, chicken thighs or roasted vegetables.

    This recipe uses spaghetti but you can use any type of fresh or dry pasta such as fettuccine, paccheri, penne or gnocchi.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Gorgonzola
    • Mushrooms
    • How to use dried porcini
    • How much pasta to use
    • Tips for boiling spaghetti
    • Substitutions and variations
    • Make ahead
    • You may also like …
    • 📋 Recipe

    Ingredients

    Ingredients on table for pasta gorgonzola.

    Gorgonzola

    The star ingredient of this dish is the gorgonzola so make sure it is good quality.

    Gorgonzola is a blue mould cheese made from cows’ milk. There are two types of gorgonzola cheese, dolce and piccante.

    • Gorgonzola dolce is the young version of the cheese – it is soft and creamy, almost like butter with a mild, slightly sweet flavour and melts easily, making it perfect for sauces.
    • Gorgonzola piccante is the mature version – it is tangy and sharper with a slight spiciness, and perfect for a cheeseboard alongside fruit and nuts.

    This creamy gorgonzola sauce is made with gorgonzola dolce which is the milder version.

    Allow the cheese to sit at room temperature before using, then remove the rind and cut into small cubes or crumble into the sauce using fingers.

    Mushrooms

    Sauteed mushrooms in butter with fresh sage adds layers of extra flavour to the dish. They can be left out (this will reduce the cooking time by 10 minutes) and the creamy blue cheese sauce will still be delicious.

    Use chestnut or portobello mushrooms for this recipe or porcini for a stronger flavour.

    Rinse the mushrooms to remove any dirt then pat dry using kitchen paper.

    Slice and saute in butter with a couple of fresh leaves (or a pinch of dried sage)

    How to use dried porcini

    If using dried porcini, place in a small bowl and fill with water till just covered, then soak for around 15 minutes.

    The soaking liquid will be full of flavour and should be strained to remove any grit before using.

    You could add a couple of tablespoons of the liquid to the sauce for extra flavour, or reserve for another recipe such as a minestrone or chicken and mushroom pie.

    How much pasta to use

    Typically, 500 grams (1 pound) of pasta will serve:

    As a first course – 6 people

    As a main course – 4 people

    Tips for boiling spaghetti

    • To boil spaghetti, ensure the pan is filled with enough water so the spaghetti cooks fully submerged. The pan needs to be large enough so boiling water can move around each piece of pasta. This way the pasta will cook uniformly not stick together. 
    • Salt the water at the beginning, before it comes to a boil then stir so it becomes salted throughout.
    • Add the spaghetti in one go and don’t worry if it protrudes from the top of the pot. As the spaghetti softens, stir with a wooden spoon so it becomes fully submerged and doesn’t stick together.
    • Do not add oil as it will rise and float to top affecting the temperature of the water and cooking time.
    • There is no standard time for cooking pasta, as cooking times will vary depending on the shape and type of grain used. Cook the pasta one minute less than the time on the packet so that last minute can be used to cook the drained pasta with the sauce. Watch the clock as undercooked pasta will be raw inside and inedible, while overcooked pasta will be soft, starchy and sticky and won’t taste good at all.
    • When draining the pasta water away, reserve a small amount (around 120 millilitres, or half a cup) of the starchy pasta water to mix into the sauce as it will help the sauce stick to the pasta ensuring it is fully coated and add creaminess.

    Substitutions and variations

    Are you missing a few ingredients? Try these substitutions for the following:

    Spaghetti – any shape pasta will do, fresh or dry. Follow the cooking instructions on the packet, reducing boiling time by 1 minute, then cook pasta in the sauce for the remaining minute with a little pasta water.

    Gorgonzola – use any similar mild flavoured blue cheese with a soft and creamy consistency such as Dolcelatte, St Agur blue cheese, Danish Blue or Roquefort.

    Mushrooms – can be omitted entirely and the sauce will still taste delicious. Alternatively, use another vegetable such as wilted spinach, sauteed zucchini, cavolo nero or fennel.

    Make ahead

    The gorgonzola cheese sauce (with or without mushrooms) can be prepared ahead and kept in a sealed container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Bring to room temperature or warm it up, adding a little pasta water before mixing into the spaghetti.

    The spaghetti should be cooked just before serving then served straight away.

    You may also like …

    • Creamy Red Pepper Soup
    • Cavolo Nero With Garlic And Lemon
    • Pasta With Ricotta And Tomato Sauce
    • Strawberry Custard Tart

    🍅 Are you making this Spaghetti Gorgonzola recipe? I’d love to know how it turned out, do let me know in the comments below.

    Instagram – I love seeing your creations, so post a picture, tag @endofthefork and hashtag #endofthefork

    📋 Recipe

    Spaghetti with gorgonzola sauce and mushrooms in blue bowl.

    Pasta Al Gorgonzola

    Nicole Shroff
    Pasta with gorgonzola sauce is rich, full of flavour and wonderful comfort food. It is super easy to prepare requiring few ingredients making it perfect for an easy weeknight dinner, date night or last minute get-togethers.
    5 from 2 votes
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    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 25 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Mains
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 6 people
    Calories 674 kcal

    Ingredients

    Mushrooms

    • 30 grams butter 2 tablespoons
    • 200 grams chestnut, portobello or porcini mushrooms 7 ounces, cleaned and dried then sliced thinly (see notes below for porcini)
    • 2 leaves fresh sage or a pinch or dried sage

    Pasta

    • 500 grams spaghetti 1 pound, or any type of pasta
    • water for boiling pasta
    • salt for boiling pasta

    Cheese Sauce

    • 200 grams gorgonzola dolce 7 ounces, rind removed
    • 300 millilitres double cream 1¼ cup, heavy cream (US)
    • 120 millilitres reserved pasta water ½ cup
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
    • 50 grams parmesan cheese freshly grated, for garnish

    Instructions
     

    Mushrooms

    • 200 grams chestnut, portobello or porcini mushrooms, 30 grams butter, ½ teaspoon salt
      In a large skillet, melt the butter and saute mushrooms, sage and salt on medium low heat for around 10 minutes till softened (just a couple of minutes if using rehydrated porcini). Set aside, leaving the mushrooms in the pan.

    Cook pasta

    • water, salt
      Fill ¾ of a large saucepan with water, add salt and bring to a rolling boil.
    • 500 grams spaghetti
      Add the pasta and cook to 1 minute less than the time indicated on the packet. Drain the pasta reserving 120 millilitres or ½ cup of the pasta water in a small bowl and set aside.

    Sauce

    • 200 grams gorgonzola dolce, 300 millilitres double cream
      Replace the skillet containing mushrooms on a medium low heat and stir in the cream. As tiny bubbles begin to form, crumble in the gorgonzola then stir with a wooden spoon till the cheese has melted. Taste and add more seasoning if required.

    Combine pasta and sauce

    • 120 millilitres reserved pasta water, 50 grams parmesan cheese, ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
      Pour the pasta into the sauce and mix till the pasta is fully coated. Cook for another minute on a medium heat, stirring constantly, adding the pasta water. Remove from the heat and serve with freshly grated parmesan cheese and a sprinkling of freshly ground black pepper.

    Notes

    Mushrooms

    • Adding mushrooms is entirely optional and this step can be omitted. Use chestnut, portobello mushrooms or porcini for a stronger flavour. 
    • If using dried porcini, place in a small bowl and fill with water till just covered, the soak for around 15 minutes.
    • The soaking liquid will be full of flavour and should be strained to remove any grit before using. You could add a couple of tablespoons of the liquid to the sauce for extra flavour, or reserve for another recipe.

    Tips for boiling pasta 

    • To boil spaghetti, ensure the pan is filled with enough water so the spaghetti cooks fully submerged. The pan needs to be large enough so boiling water can move around each piece of pasta. This way the pasta will cook uniformly not stick together. 
    • Salt the water at the beginning, before it comes to a boil then stir so it becomes salted throughout.
    • Add the spaghetti in one go and don’t worry if it protrudes from the top of the pot. As the spaghetti softens, stir with a wooden spoon so it becomes fully submerged and doesn’t stick together.
    • Do not add oil as it will rise and float to top affecting the temperature of the water and cooking time.
    • There is no standard time for cooking pasta, as cooking times will vary depending on the shape and type of grain used. Cook the pasta one minute less than the time on the packet so that last minute can be used to cook the drained pasta with the sauce. Watch the clock as undercooked pasta will be raw inside and inedible, while overcooked pasta will be soft, starchy and sticky and won’t taste good at all.
    • When draining the pasta water away, reserve a small amount (around 120 millilitres, or half a cup) of the starchy pasta water to mix into the sauce as it will help the sauce stick to the pasta ensuring it is fully coated and add creaminess.

    Substitutions & variations

    • Spaghetti – any shape pasta will do, fresh or dry. Follow the cooking instructions on the packet, reducing boiling time by 1 minute, then cook pasta in the sauce for the remaining minute with a little pasta water.
    • Gorgonzola – use any similar mild flavoured blue cheese with a soft and creamy consistency such as Dolcelatte, St Agur blue cheese, Danish Blue or Roquefort.
    • Mushrooms – can be omitted entirely and the sauce will still taste delicious. Alternatively, use another vegetable such as wilted spinach, sauteed zucchini, cavolo nero or fennel.

    Make ahead

    The sauce can be made a few hours ahead and kept in a closed container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Bring to room temperature before using then stir into freshly made pasta adding a little pasta water so it mixes easily.

    Leftovers

    Store leftovers in a closed container and keep in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
     

    MEASUREMENT NOTES

    The ingredients here on EOTF are set out in grams & milliliters and in US cups & spoons.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 674kcalCarbohydrates: 66gProtein: 23gFat: 35gSaturated Fat: 22gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 98mgSodium: 763mgPotassium: 478mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1184IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 333mgIron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe? I’d love to know how it turned out! Let me know by leaving a review below, or snap a photo and share it on Instagram tagging me @Endofthefork.
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