Caramelized Onion Pasta

Ingredients

• 12 oz spaghetti or bucatini
• 3 yellow onions (Thinly sliced)
• 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 3 cloves garlic (Finely minced)
• kosher salt (To taste, plus 1 tablespoon for the pasta water)
• black pepper (Freshly ground, to taste)
• 0.5 cup dry white wine (Optional; may be replaced with pasta water)
• 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves (Or use 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme)
• 0.75 cup Parmesan cheese (Finely grated, plus more for serving)
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley (Chopped, for garnish)

Steps

1. 1

   Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. The water should be noticeably salty, since it will season the pasta and later help form the sauce.

2. 2

   While the water heats, warm the olive oil and butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and a pinch of salt, then stir to coat them evenly in the fat.

3. 3

   Cook the onions over medium-low heat for 30 to 35 minutes, stirring every few minutes so they brown evenly. Continue until they are very soft, deep golden brown, and jammy; lower the heat if they begin to scorch.

4. 4

   Add the minced garlic and thyme to the caramelized onions. Cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, until the garlic is fragrant but not browned.

5. 5

   Pour in the white wine, if using, and scrape the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, until the wine is reduced by roughly half. If not using wine, add a small splash of pasta water instead.

6. 6

   Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve at least 1 cup of the starchy cooking water.

7. 7

   Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the onion mixture. Toss thoroughly to coat every strand, adding reserved pasta water a few tablespoons at a time until the sauce becomes glossy and clings to the noodles.

8. 8

   Remove the skillet from the heat. Add the grated Parmesan and toss until melted into the sauce. Season with black pepper and additional salt as needed.

9. 9

   Divide the pasta among four bowls. Finish with chopped parsley, extra Parmesan, and another grind of black pepper, if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

The linked post states that the full written recipe is on Substack, but no ingredient quantities or instructions were provided in the accessible source. This recipe is a best-effort reconstruction from the title and common preparation methods; verify it against the author's Substack recipe if exact fidelity is required.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• pasta
• vegetarian
• Italian-inspired
• stovetop
• comfort food
• caramelized onions