A recipe for Pasta con Salsa Caruso (Uruguayan Pasta with Caruso Sauce). This thick, creamy sauce is packed with sliced mushrooms, ham, and Parmesan cheese and perfect for pairing with your favorite pasta.

Pasta con Salsa Caruso (Uruguayan Pasta with Caruso Sauce)

unsalted butter

button mushrooms (thinly sliced)

all purpose flour

milk

heavy cream

beef bouillon

Parmesan cheese

smoked ham

Salt, black pepper, and freshly grated nutmeg (to taste)

pasta (cooked until al dente according to package directions)

parsley (for garnish)

In a wide pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and most of the water has evaporated.

Stir in the flour until incorporated and it begins to turn golden. Slowly whisk in the milk, then the cream and beef bouillon. Continue to whisk until the sauce begins to thicken.

Remove from heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese and ham. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Serve immediately with cooked pasta and freshly chopped parsley for garnish.

I'm from Uruguay too. Try these modifications:
1. More authentic: add about 1-2 teaspoons of tomato paste (or even tomato Ketchup!) to the cream sauce and make sure it's mixed really well. This gives it a slightly pink colour but also increases its depth.

2. Many local versions use cream rather than a roux (flour etc.). The most important factor (secret from my mother), regardless of the source of creaminess, is to make sure all the sauce ingredients are mixed together when they are COLD - they blend a lot better.

3. Also more authentic - italian raw ham (Prosciutto crudo) rather than smoked ham. But any ham works.

Not so authentic, but I think great improvements keeping the original character:

1. instead of "mushrooms" just add a handful of dried porcini (ceps) mushrooms that have been soaked in warm water for 30 min or so. You can also cook them in water for a bit and evaporate most of it, then let them cool down in the remaining liquid. When cool mix with cream (or white sauce), grated cheese, tomato paste, and chopped ham.

2. Toast some pine nuts (or walnuts, or hazelnuts) in a dry pan stirring frequently until golden. Toss onto the pasta at the end, along with more grated cheese.

3. A touch of freshness with a little chopped parsley at the very end, mixed in the sauce.

Ola, sou Uruguaia, e realmente este prato é maravilhoso, prático, e deixa qualquer jantar com um ar sofisticado, no ha como no impressionar com esta receita.   Feliz em saber que tem agradado e conquistado o paladar de todos vcs, bjks

This Pasta is a super Happy Meal. All the delicious combinations of meats and mushrooms takes this dish to another level. My family to love it for Dinner.

I just made this pasta, and it was a huge success! Thank you for sharing!

This is my family's new favorite dinner!  Even my 1 year old loved it, and he's known to be picky :).

Our family is a pasta lover, but we have never tried any Uruguayan dish. This internationally recognized pasta meal is what I am going to cook next. I am excited. :)

pasta con salsa caruso (uruguayan pasta with caruso sauce)

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total: 30 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

Instructions

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