Caramelized Onion Pasta

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp Butter
• 2 tbsp Oil
• 2 Yellow onions (Large; thinly sliced)
• 6 cloves Fresh garlic (Minced)
• Salt (To taste, plus a pinch for the onions and enough to salt the pasta water)
• 1 tbsp Chili oil (Adjust to taste)
• 1 cup Unsweetened heavy whipping cream
• 1 tsp Soy sauce
• 0.25 cup Chicken stock
• 0.5 tsp Black pepper
• 1 tbsp Fresh parsley (Freshly chopped; reserve some for garnish if desired)
• Lemon juice (A squeeze, to taste)
• 0.5 cup Pasta water (Reserved; add only if needed to loosen the sauce)
• 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese (Freshly grated; use extra for garnish if desired)
• 8 oz Pasta (Spaghetti, fettuccine, or rigatoni; use 8–10 oz)

Steps

1. 1

   Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente.

2. 2

   Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta and set it aside.

3. 3

   Meanwhile, heat the butter and oil in a large pan over medium-low heat.

4. 4

   Add the sliced onions and a pinch of salt. Cook slowly for 20–25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are deeply golden brown.

5. 5

   Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant.

6. 6

   Stir in the chili oil.

7. 7

   Pour in the chicken stock and scrape the bottom of the pan to release the browned bits.

8. 8

   Add the heavy cream and soy sauce, then season with the black pepper.

9. 9

   Let the sauce simmer gently for 3–4 minutes, until it thickens slightly.

10. 10

    Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss thoroughly to coat it.

11. 11

    If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water and toss until the desired consistency is reached.

12. 12

    Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it melts and the sauce becomes creamy.

13. 13

    Add the lemon juice and chopped parsley. Taste and adjust the salt if necessary.

14. 14

    Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan and parsley on top.

Notes

The source lists pasta water as 1/2 cup and specifies reserving half a cup; the amount used is only as needed to loosen the sauce. The source does not specify the pasta-water salting amount or the exact amount of lemon juice. It mentions extra Parmesan and parsley for garnish without specifying additional quantities.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• pasta
• Italian-inspired
• vegetarian-optional
• creamy
• stovetop
• caramelized onions
• quick dinner