Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Boil water in saucepan

   5 min

   Boil your kettle and take out a large saucepan and two large frying pans. Fill the saucepan with boiling water, add salt, and place it over medium-high heat.

   Equipment: kettle, large saucepan, two large frying pans

2. Cook bucatini pasta

   10 min

   Add the bucatini pasta to the salted boiling water and cook until al dente, around 9–10 minutes. Reserve a mugful of the cooking water, then drain the pasta.

   Equipment: large saucepan, mug, colander

3. Prep and fry tempeh pancetta

   13 min

   In the meantime, dice the tempeh into small cubes, about 8 mm x 8 mm. Place a frying pan over high heat and add a generous glug of olive oil. Fry the tempeh cubes until golden and crispy on all sides, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add the tempeh ‘pancetta’ marinade and toss well to ensure all the tempeh is evenly coated and the marinade starts to char slightly, about 1 minute. Alternatively, you can marinate the tempeh cubes in the tempeh ‘pancetta’ marinade with a drizzle of oil, then bake in the oven at 220°C / 200°C fan for 20 to 25 minutes, until crispy and charred at the edges.

   Equipment: knife, chopping board, frying pan, oven, baking sheet
   Temperature: 220°C

4. Slice and fry mushrooms with sauce

   10 min

   Thinly slice the chestnut mushrooms . Place your second frying pan over medium-high heat and add a generous drizzle of olive oil. Once the oil is hot, fry the mushrooms until both sides are golden and caramelised at the edges. Add the creamy mushroom sauce , lower the heat, and warm through until piping hot.

   Equipment: knife, chopping board, frying pan

5. Chop fresh parsley

   3 min

   Pick the parsley leaves off the stems and chop them roughly.

   Equipment: knife, chopping board

6. Combine pasta, sauce, and serve

   4 min

   To finish, add the bucatini to the simmering creamy mushroom sauce with the chestnut mushrooms and toss to coat. Use the reserved pasta cooking water to adjust the consistency until nice and creamy - as the sauce can thicken a lot. Divide the pasta between serving bowls, garnish with the chopped parsley leaves, and enjoy!

   Equipment: frying pan, serving bowls