Creamy sausage & Mushroom Penne

Cooking time: 40 mins

Serves: 2-4

Ingredients

- 500g Penne Pasta

- 200g Sausage meat

- 1 clove of garlic. (minced)

- 1/2 White Onion

- 1tsp Fennel Seeds.

- 200g Chestnut Mushrooms

- 100g Parmesan Cheese

- 8 sprigs of thyme.

- 100g Cream Cheese (Boursin garlic & herb works really well).

- Flaked sea salt & Ground black pepper (to taste).

- Extra Virgin Olive Oil (to garnish).

Method

- Boil the Penne in salted water until aldente. Drain, drizzle with olive oil to stop it sticking, then set to one side.
- In a large, deep frying pan, fry the sausage meat, fennel seeds and onion in a little cooking oil with salt & pepper until brown and crispy.

- Add the mushrooms, garlic & half the thyme with another pinch of salt & pepper, and continue to fry until the mushrooms are cooked through.

- Pour in half the parmesan, all the cream cheese, all the cooked pasta and a good couple of spoons of pasta water. Bring to a boil, stiring continuously until thick and glossy - using the pasta water to adjust the consistency to your liking.

- Adjust the seasoning if needed, then serve and garnish with the remaining parmesan & thyme, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a good pinch of black pepper… enjoy!