Description
Caramelized Onion Pasta is a delightful dish that brings out the sweetness of onions, complemented by garlic and parmesan. Perfect for a quick, comforting meal any night!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced (~ 6 cups)
- ½ teaspoon salt, adjust to taste
- ½ teaspoon sugar, optional, helps caramelization
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon red chili flakes, optional
- ½ cup dry white wine, or vegetable broth
- 12 ounces pasta, spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine
- ½ cup reserved pasta cooking water
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat until the butter foams. Add onions and salt, stirring to coat them well.
- Cook the onions, stirring frequently, until softened and liquid is released, about 10 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to cook, stirring every 3-5 minutes, until onions are deep golden brown, around 25-30 minutes. If they start to stick, add a little water and lower the heat. If using, stir in sugar halfway through.
- Mix in the garlic and red chili flakes, cooking until fragrant for 30-60 seconds.
- Pour in the wine or broth and scrape up browned bits. Simmer until reduced to a glaze, around 2-3 minutes.
- Meanwhile, boil a large pot of salted water. Cook pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain the rest.
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet with caramelized onions and toss to coat them well.
- Gradually add pasta water, 1-2 tablespoons at a time, tossing until creamy. Incorporate the parmesan until the sauce is glossy.
- Season with black pepper according to taste. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
For extra flavor, try adding some fresh herbs along with the parsley.
If you prefer a bit more heat, increase the amount of red chili flakes.
This dish can easily be made vegetarian by using vegetable broth.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 543
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 508mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 63g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 37mg