Creamy Caramelized Onion 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.

CHICKEN, BACON AND CARAMELIZED ONION PASTA BAKE (COOKING FOR 2)

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425°F. In 7-inch cast-iron skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium heat. Add onion; cook 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are browned. Remove from heat.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta as directed on package to al dente; drain.
• In 2-quart saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add flour; cook and stir 1 minute. Beat in milk, salt and pepper with whisk; heat to boiling. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat; beat in Gruyère and Parmesan cheeses. Add cooked pasta, chicken, bacon and browned onions; gently stir to combine. Transfer to same 7-inch cast-iron skillet.
• In small bowl, mix bread crumbs and 1 tablespoon melted butter. Sprinkle over top of pasta mixture. Bake 14 to 17 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown.

CARAMELIZED ONION & GARLIC PASTA

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt butter. Add the onions, pepper flakes and salt; saute until onions are tender. Stir in garlic. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, stirring occasionally, for 30-40 minutes or until onions are deep golden brown., Add the tomatoes, vinegar and 2 tablespoons oil to the skillet. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta; toss with onion mixture., Drizzle with remaining olive oil. Sprinkle with bacon, cheese, and pepper; heat through. Garnish with basil if desired.

PASTA WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large Dutch oven or wide pot over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook, undisturbed, until they are lightly browned and they start to soften, about 5 minutes. Stir well, then add the onions, paprika, remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, 3/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally (more frequently toward the end), until the onions are golden and very tender, about 30 minutes, reducing the heat to medium during the last 10 minutes so the onions don't burn.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs for al dente. Reserve 1 1/2 cups cooking water, then drain. Add the pasta, 3/4 cup cooking water, the sour cream and vinegar to the mushroom-onion mixture. Toss until the pasta is well coated and slightly saucy, gradually adding the remaining cooking water as needed.
• Add about half each of the parsley, dill and chives to the pasta and toss; season with salt and pepper. Divide among bowls and top with the remaining parsley, dill and chives.

CREAMY CARAMELIZED ONION PASTA

Steps:

• In a large slow cooker, combine the onions and olive oil. Stir well to coat, then cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours, or until well browned and caramelized.
• When the onions are done, bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil.
• Add the pasta and cook according to package directions. Drain, then set pasta aside.
• In the same pot you used to boil the pasta, add the caramelized onions, creme fraiche, arugula and sun-dried tomatoes. Stir over medium heat until the arugula just begins to wilt and the cream fraiche is heated through.
• Plate the pasta, spoon the caramelized onion-creme fraiche mixture over it then season with salt, freshly grated black pepper; garnish with fresh parsley.

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.

CREAMY CARAMELIZED ONION PASTA

Steps:

• 1. In a large slow cooker, combine the onions and olive oil. Stir well to coat, then cover and cook on high for 6 to 8 hours, or until well browned and caramelized. 2. When the onions are done, bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions. Drain, then return to the pot. Add the onions, creme fraiche, arugula and sun-dried tomatoes. Stir over medium heat until the arugula just begins to wilt, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Nutrition information per serving (values are rounded to the nearest whole number): 450 calories; 160 calories from fat (35 percent of total calories); 18 g fat (8 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 25 mg cholesterol; 62 g carbohydrate; 11 g protein; 5 g fiber; 170 mg sodium. Editor's Note: Food Editor J.M. Hirsch is author of the cookbook "High Flavor, Low Labor: Reinventing Weeknight Cooking."