Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 pound portabella mushrooms (about 6), stemmed
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 3/4 pound penne
  • 3/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano
  • 1 tablespoon chopped marjoram or oregano
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Method

  • Prepare grill for direct-heat cooking over hot charcoal (high heat for gas); see
  • Brush mushroom caps with vegetable oil and season with 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper.
  • Oil grill rack, then grill mushrooms, stemmed sides down, covered only if using a gas grill, 5 minutes. Turn mushrooms over and grill until tender, about 3 minutes more. Cool slightly and slice.
  • Cook penne in a pasta pot of well-salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 3 tablespoon cooking water, then drain pasta.
  • Toss pasta with reserved cooking water, mushrooms, Pecorino, marjoram, olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste.