Roasted Garlic and Caramelized Onion Pasta

Ingredients

• 3 Onions (large, sliced)
• 1 tbsp Paprika powder (sweet or smoked depending on preference)
• 1 tbsp Salt (to taste)
• 1 tsp Black pepper
• 1 tbsp Tomato paste (or thick crushed tomatoes)
• 4 tbsp Olive oil (plus extra for drizzling over garlic)
• 2 heads Garlic (whole heads)
• 200 ml Heavy cream (38% fat content preferred)
• Cilantro (one handful, freshly chopped)
• 375 g Macaroni pasta (roughly 3/4 of a standard package)

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 250°C (480°F).

2. 2

   In a large baking dish, combine the sliced onions, paprika, salt, black pepper, tomato paste, and 4 tbsp of olive oil. Mix thoroughly until the onions are evenly coated in the spices and oil.

3. 3

   Prepare the garlic heads by slicing off the very top to expose the cloves. Place the two heads of garlic on top of the onion mixture and drizzle them with a little extra olive oil.

4. 4

   Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil to trap the moisture.

5. 5

   Place the dish in the oven and roast for approximately 1.5 hours. The onions should become deeply caramelized and dark, and the garlic should be completely soft and spreadable.

6. 6

   While the vegetables are roasting, cook the macaroni in a large pot of salted boiling water according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain, but reserve a small amount of pasta water just in case.

7. 7

   Remove the baking dish from the oven. Carefully take the roasted garlic heads and squeeze them from the bottom so the softened cloves pop out into the onions. Discard the papery skins.

8. 8

   Pour the heavy cream into the dish and add the chopped cilantro. Stir everything together, mashing the garlic into the cream to create a smooth, thick sauce integrated with the onions.

9. 9

   Add the cooked macaroni to the baking dish and toss well until every piece of pasta is coated in the onion and garlic cream sauce. Serve immediately.

Notes

The high temperature (250°C) is intended to rapidly caramelize the onions while they are protected by the foil. If your oven runs very hot, check at the 1-hour mark to ensure the onions aren't burning. If cilantro isn't to your taste, flat-leaf parsley makes an excellent substitute.

Nutrition per serving

• Pasta
• Vegetarian
• Main Course
• Caramelized Onion
• Roasted Garlic
• Comfort Food
• Baked