Spring Nettles and Oyster Mushroom Pasta

Spring in the Pacific Northwest is accompanied by two commonly foraged foods; stinging nettles and oyster mushrooms. This dish incorporates both of these along with chicken sausage to make a delightful pasta dish. It’s a little early for foraged oysters right now so I used my own cultivated mushrooms.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb (450 g) pasta (such as fusilli, linguine, or fettuccine)
• 1 lb (450 g) chicken sausages, sliced into 1/2-inch (1 cm) pieces
• 2 cups (200 g) fresh oyster mushrooms, sliced
• 2 cups (60 g) fresh nettles, blanched and drained (use gloves to handle)
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 leek, cleaned and sliced into half-moons
• 2 carrots, peeled and diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1-inch (2.5 cm) piece of ginger, minced
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) olive oil, divided
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• Red pepper flakes, to taste (optional)
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced
• 1/2 cup (65 g) nuts (such as almonds, walnuts, or pine nuts), roughly chopped
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions in a large pot of salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water and then drain the pasta.

2. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the chicken sausages and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through, about 8-10 minutes. Remove the sausages from the skillet and set aside.

3. In the same skillet, add another 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the onion, leek, and carrots. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, about 5-7 minutes.

4. Add the garlic and ginger to the skillet, and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, until fragrant. Stir in the Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes (if using), and a pinch of salt and black pepper.

5. Add the oyster mushrooms to the skillet and cook for 4-5 minutes, until they have softened and slightly browned.

6. Stir in the blanched nettles and cooked chicken sausages. Cook for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.

7. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, and a pinch of salt and black pepper to create a light sauce.

8. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the chicken sausage and vegetable mixture. Pour the lemon-ginger sauce and 1/2 cup of reserved pasta water over the pasta. Gently toss everything together, adding more pasta water as needed to create a light, silky sauce.

9. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes as desired.

10. Serve the pasta in bowls