Skip to content
First Courses

Woodcutter’s Pasta

Woodcutter's Pasta is a quick and easy first course with autumnal flavors, prepared with seasonal ingredients! A hearty pasta dish that will win you over from the very first bite.
Recipe Woodcutter’s Pasta
  • Difficulty Easy
  • Preparation 10 minutes
  • Cooking 30 minutes
  • Servings for Serves 4

Woodcutter’s Pasta is a rich and tasty first course that’s quick and easy to prepare! The Woodcutter’s Sauce has a typical autumn flavor because it’s made with seasonal ingredients like Mushrooms.

There isn’t a single Original Recipe for Woodcutter’s Pasta as it varies significantly from region to region in Italy. In some areas, people prepare Woodcutter’s Pasta with Bacon, while in others, they prefer to use Italian Sausage. Whether you choose Smoked Pancetta (Italian-style bacon) or Italian Sausage, Penne alla Boscaiola is a hearty first course perfect for cold autumn or winter days.

Among the different variations of this recipe, we can’t forget the Woodcutter’s Pasta Without Cream (which is basically pasta with a Sausage and Mushroom Sauce) and the Woodcutter’s Pasta with Peas, where canned peas are added towards the end of the sauce cooking time.

In this recipe, we’ll show you how to make Woodcutter’s Pasta with Italian Sausage, but if you’d like to try the bacon version, just follow the same steps and timing, substituting Smoked Pancetta (or regular bacon if pancetta is not available) for the Italian Sausage.

Ingredients for Serves 4

Copy Ingredients List
Open in App

Method

Download our APP with exclusive content and LESS ADS! Click here and GET IT FREE
  1. To prepare Pasta alla Boscaiola (Woodcutter’s Pasta), start by removing the casing from the Italian sausage, break it into small chunks and brown it well in a pan.
    Woodcutter Style Pasta 1
    Mushroom And Bacon Pasta 2
  2. Once the sausage is well browned, remove it and set aside. In the same pan, sauté finely chopped onion with a tablespoon of olive oil and a knob of butter.
    Woodland Style Pasta Recipe 4
    Pasta With Mushrooms And Bacon 5
  3. After cleaning and slicing the mushrooms, add them to the pan and sauté for a few moments. Season with salt and pepper, then deglaze with white wine.
    Pasta With Mushroom Cream Sauce 6
    Pasta With Mushroom Cream Sauce 7
  4. Add the tomato puree and a tablespoon of tomato paste, mix well and let it simmer over low heat for 10-15 minutes.
    Pasta With Mushroom Cream Sauce 8
    Mushroom Sausage Pasta 9
  5. When the sauce has thickened, add back the sausage chunks and the cooking cream. Mix everything well and let it cook over low heat for a few minutes.
    Woodland Style Pasta Recipe 10
    Woodcutters Pasta Recipe 11
  6. Cook the pasta in plenty of salted boiling water until al dente, drain and add it to the sauce with mushrooms, tomato, and sausage. Continue cooking for 1 minute to combine the flavors.
    Pasta With Mushroom Cream Sauce 12
    Creamy Mushroom Pasta 13
  7. Finely chop fresh parsley, sprinkle it over the pasta, mix well, and your Pasta alla Boscaiola is ready to be served hot. Finally, remember to download our App with exclusive content and fewer ads!
    Woodcutters Style Pasta

Variations and Alternatives

To make your Pasta alla Boscaiola even more flavorful, you can add black olives, green peas, or smoked pancetta (Italian bacon). These additions are common variations in different Italian regions.

Tips

For the best Pasta alla Boscaiola (Woodsman’s Pasta), I recommend using ridged pasta shapes like penne or rigatoni, as they better hold the creamy sauce. If you prefer long pasta, tagliatelle or pappardelle would be excellent choices.

Storage

You can store Pasta alla Boscaiola in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. When reheating, you may need to add a splash of milk or cream to restore the sauce’s creamy consistency.

Comments