Creamy Caramelized Onion And Parmesan Pasta Recipes

CARAMELIZED ONION PASTA

Steps:

• Heat oil and butter in a large heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium until butter is melted. Add onions and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until very tender and deeply golden brown, about 30 minutes. (Stop before the onions become dry and shriveled.) Add red pepper flakes (if using) and 1 1/2 tsp. salt. Remove pot from heat.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Reserve 1 1/2 cups pasta cooking liquid.
• Add pasta and 1 cup pasta cooking liquid to onion mixture and stir to combine. Add a small handful of cheese and stir until melted. Repeat with remaining cheese, adding more pasta cooking liquid as needed to create a glossy sauce that coats the pasta. Stir in parsley (if using).
• Divide pasta among bowls. Top with Parmesan, parsley, and a few cranks of pepper.

CREAMY CARAMELIZED ONION AND PARMESAN PASTA

Steps:

• Heat a glug of olive oil in a large saucepan or skiller with the butter. Add the onion and cook over a low-medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft, really golden and sticky. This will take about 30 minutes. Don't be tempted to rush the onion slices by increasing the heat otherwise they will burn and taste bitter rather than have a 'melt in the mouth' sweet flavour.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta until al dente.
• Lightly toast the pine nuts in a dry frying pan and set aside.
• Increase the heat under the onion and stir in a good splash of Madeira, Marsala or sherry. Leave to almost evaporate, and then stir in the cream, mustard, parsley and pine nuts. Gently simmer for a couple of minutes, stir in the Parmesan and season with salt and pepper.
• Drain the pasta, reserving a couple of tablespoons of the cooking water. Mix well with the sauce and eat straight away in warmed bowls.
• Note: Try and use good quality egg pasta because it is lighter in texture than basic dried pasta.