How can I make this recipe more OS?

CompBunny

Good afternoon everyone,

I was thinking of making this recipe for mothers day, but I think it might be quite expensive to make, especially considering we don't drink so don't have any wine in the house!
Mushroom and Spinach Penne
400g Penne
350g mushrooms
300g Spinach
150g Mascarpone cheese
100ml red wine
1 Shallot
1 Garlic clove
1 tbsp olive oil
Pinch of rosemary

I don't have the mushrooms spinach mascarpone red wine shallot or rosemary... also my OH doesn't like spinach, is there anything it can be substituted with for his portion? If not he will just have to pick it out as its about dinner for my mum

I have a feeling there is nothing I can do except change recipe, but I think my mum would really like this so will just buy the ingredients anyway if theres nothing that can be done to OS it!

What can I serve it with that would be fairly cheap? I was thinking of making chocolate cheesecake from The Takeaway Secret for dessert but no idea what to do for a starter..

Thanks!

FairyPrincessk

If you don't mind a change in texture and stronger flavour, you can use broccoli instead of spinach.

For the mascarpone, it generally isn't too expensive, but if you have ricotta, Philadelph!a, or another white cheese you could make a white sauce with that is a way to not have to buy something new. Ricotta will have a grainier texture, and if you make a white sauce with, say, parmesan it will be more strongly flavoured, but still very tasty. If you're making a cheese cake, you might be able to use the same cheese for the cheesecake and the pasta--some cheesecakes do have mascarpone, while others use phil. You may have to stir the phil a bit extra with the liquid to get it to the same consistency.

You could replace the red wine with stock, use a very small and very finely chopped piece of onion in place of shallot (foodies will gasp, but just remember onions have a stronger flavour and reduce accordingly! It will be fine).

You could season with something other than rosemary--basil, oregano or thyme all come to mind, although this will distinctly alter the flavour.

Of course, if you do all of these things it really won't be the same recipe. I'd suggest springing for the mascarpone and the rosemary as these are*nt too expensive. Substitute for the wine and shallot.

FairyPrincessk

Oh--and this is likely to be a very creamy, rich dish. I'd serve something light and fresh for starters--a salad, melon, smoked salmon or the like.

kittycat204

CompBunny wrote: »

350g mushrooms
300g Spinach
150g Mascarpone cheese
100ml red wine
1 Shallot
Pinch of rosemary

I don't have the mushrooms spinach mascarpone red wine shallot or rosemary... also my OH doesn't like spinach, is there anything it can be substituted with for his portion? If not he will just have to pick it out as its about dinner for my mum

mushrooms i would use frozen, then you can use the left overs another day. i would substitute spinach for rocket. i agree with other poster about cream cheese, value should work just as well. i agree with using onion too, and stock idea. as for the rosemary i would beg for some. does nobody you know have a small herb garden?

starter how about bruschetta some with chopped toms, others with green or black tapenade from home bargains if you have one. humous, pea and mint, roasted peppers. look beautiful on a plate and easy. or you could do those toppings as dips and have some crudites to dip in them.

nuatha

I'd use Philadelphia Garlic and Herb and 100 ml of vegetable stock (half a stock cube dissolved in boiling water) for the sauce. You could use diced green pepper for colour and texture to replace the spinach. For a more OS touch, wild ramsons are out now and the young leaves would cook like spinach and add another garlic like note.
Starters, I agree with FairyPrincessk, this is a rich creamy dish and if you're having cheesecake for dessert then a light starter. My temptation would be melon and ginger, bruschetta or simply some nice bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

adelight

You can get mini bottles of wine for ~£1.50 if you really want to use the wine but it will probably survive without it.
I would use ricotta or quark rather than cheese spread instead of the mascarpone. Cheese spread isn't as sour and will change the taste of the dish and imo it will feel less posh!

THIRZAH

You could use frozen spinach-you can get a kilo bag for about £1.Just leave it out of your DHs portion or as you say he can pick it out.

It might be worth trying Aldi for mascerpone-not sure if they do one but most of their cheese is reasonably priced .

I buy the little cartons of wine from Mr T's for cooking and freeze any leftovers.

CompBunny

Thanks so much for your suggestions My mouth was watering reading your ideas, one of the hazards of reading the OS forum!!

I'm still in lots of minds about what to do about this recipe, so I think I'll just cost it out and make one or two smaller changes (including pinching a sprig of rosemary from mums garden when I pick her up hehe) as I'm not confident enough in my culinary skills to stray toooo far from the recipe

Thanks very much for your help indeed ladies x

nuatha

Quick afterthought. Water cress would make a straight substitute for spinach, if OH would eat that.

[Deleted User]

How about purple sprouting broccoli or asparagus instead of the spinach - guess you'd have to partly cook them first - also Sainsbugs do a small bottle of red or white cooking wine for just over £1 to help keep costs down.

Alison_Funnell

Brandy - honestly. A bottle of really cheap brandy, use only a splash or so gives a background flavour with relatively little cost ( I buy the cheap £4 bottles at christmas) and unlike wine can be stored indefinitly between uses.