Description
A flavorful and comforting pasta dish featuring sweet caramelized onions and savory garlic, tossed with al dente spaghetti in a creamy, spiced sauce finished with parmesan and optional chili oil for a spicy kick.
Ingredients
Spaghetti
- 8 oz spaghetti
Sauce
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper
- 1 tsp salt, plus more to taste
- 1 tsp black pepper, plus more to taste
Garnish
- 1 green onion, chopped
- Grated parmesan cheese
- Chili oil (optional)
Instructions
- Caramelize Onions: In a pan, melt the butter over medium heat and add olive oil. Add the thinly sliced onions and cook on low heat for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions turn brown and caramelized. If the onions start to stick, add a splash of water to deglaze the pan.
- Cook Spaghetti: While the onions cook, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic and Prepare Sauce: Once the onions are caramelized, add the minced garlic to the pan and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant. Then add the heavy cream, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, salt, and black pepper. Stir to combine and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.
- Toss Pasta: Add the cooked spaghetti directly into the pan with the sauce. Toss everything together until the spaghetti is thoroughly coated and heated through. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
- Garnish and Serve: Transfer the pasta to serving bowls or plates. Garnish with chopped green onions and a generous sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese. Drizzle with chili oil if desired for an extra spicy note. Serve immediately while hot and enjoy!
Notes
- Caramelizing onions slowly over low heat is key to developing their natural sweetness.
- Deglazing the pan with water prevents onions from sticking and burning during caramelization.
- You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter sauce but it may be less rich.
- Adjust crushed red pepper and chili oil to taste depending on your heat preference.
- For a vegetarian version, ensure the parmesan cheese used is free from animal rennet.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
