Nutrient-packed mushrooms offer deep, savory flavor

Mushrooms give a meaty heartiness and deep, savory flavor to dishes in a healthful way. You might be surprised to discover just how healthful.

The fungi don't make it onto most typical produce “top 10” lists because those tend to focus on vitamins A and C and the rainbow colors. But that omission is the fault of the yardstick, not the subject.

Mushrooms shine brightly as nutritional stars in many other areas. Just six medium-size white button mushrooms have more riboflavin (a B vitamin) than a cup of milk and nearly as much potassium as a small banana. Mushrooms are loaded with essential minerals including selenium, copper and zinc. Plus, varieties such as shiitake and maitake have multiple anti-cancer and immune-boosting properties.

Feel free to bring up those fun facts at dinner to break the pleasure-induced silence that is sure to grace your table as everyone digs into this sumptuous pasta dish.

In it, a mix of fresh mushrooms teams with dried porcinis to provide layers of earthy flavors that pair perfectly with the slightly nutty, rustic texture of the whole-grain penne. Fresh thyme and parsley add color, aroma and a floral note, and a generous sprinkle of cheese seals the deal for a full-bodied, comforting winter's meal.

• Ellie Krieger's most recent cookbook is “Weeknight Wonders: Delicious Healthy Dinners in 30 Minutes or Less” (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013). She blogs and offers a weekly newsletter at www.elliekrieger.com.