One-Tray Caramelized Onion & Garlic Pasta

Ingredients

• 2 large onions (Thinly sliced)
• 1 whole garlic head (Slice about 1/4 inch from the top)
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 2 tsp salt (Plus a little extra for the garlic and to adjust seasoning)
• 2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 5 tbsp olive oil (Use 4 tablespoons for the onions and 1 tablespoon for the garlic)
• 2 tbsp chili crisp (Such as Momofuku chili crisp; plus more for finishing if desired)
• 1.5 cup cream or coconut milk (Room temperature; use one or the other)
• 1 tbsp soy sauce (Optional)
• 0.5 cup fresh Parmesan cheese (Grated; plus more for finishing if desired)
• 0.5 lemon juice (Juice of 1/2 lemon)
• 12 oz pasta (Pasta of choice)
• pasta water (Reserve up to 1 cup before draining; add as needed)
• fresh parsley (Optional, for finishing)

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the thinly sliced onions in a baking dish. Add the paprika, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and 4 tablespoons of olive oil. Toss thoroughly until the onions are evenly coated.

2. 2

   Slice about 1/4 inch from the top of the garlic head to expose the cloves. Place the garlic cut-side up on top of the onions. Drizzle it with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle it with a little salt.

3. 3

   Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and bake for 1 hour. Every 20 minutes, remove the foil, toss the onions, and add a small splash of water to prevent them from burning; do this twice. The onions are ready when they are deep golden, very soft, and jammy.

4. 4

   While the onions and garlic roast, cook the pasta in a pot of salted water according to the package instructions until al dente. Before draining, reserve up to 1 cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta.

5. 5

   Carefully remove the roasted garlic from the baking dish and let it cool slightly until it is safe to handle. Squeeze the softened garlic cloves from the head directly into the caramelized onions.

6. 6

   Add the chili crisp, room-temperature cream or coconut milk, optional soy sauce, lemon juice, grated Parmesan, and drained pasta to the baking dish.

7. 7

   Toss the pasta with the onion and garlic mixture until coated. Add reserved pasta water a little at a time until the sauce becomes glossy and reaches your preferred consistency. Taste and adjust the salt if needed.

8. 8

   Serve immediately, finishing with extra grated Parmesan, additional chili crisp, and fresh parsley if desired. The pasta is also suggested with chicken, shrimp, or tofu.

Notes

The creator recommends serving this pasta with chicken, shrimp, or tofu. Use room-temperature cream or coconut milk to help the sauce combine smoothly. Add pasta water gradually rather than all at once.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• pasta
• vegetarian
• comfort food
• one-tray
• oven-baked
• caramelized onions
• roasted garlic