Description
Caramelized onion and roasted garlic pasta delivers a symphony of rich, complex flavors that dance across your palate. Silky strands of pasta embrace sweet onions and mellow roasted garlic, creating an irresistible Italian-inspired comfort dish you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) gemelli pasta
- 4 medium onions, sliced
- 6 cloves garlic, peeled
Flavor Enhancers:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon vinegar (balsamic or white)
- 2 sprigs thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
Finishing Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) heavy cream
- 1/2 cup (50 grams) Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
- Olive oil (to cover garlic)
Instructions
- Roast whole garlic bulbs at 250°F for 1 hour until golden, submerged in olive oil and thyme. Remove from oven and reserve infused oil.
- Melt butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onions and sauté for 15 minutes until they begin softening and turning translucent.
- Deglaze onion pan with water, sugar, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking for additional 15 minutes, stirring occasionally until onions transform into deep amber, rich caramelized state.
- Simultaneously, bring a large pot of salted water to rolling boil. Cook gemelli pasta until perfectly al dente, approximately 11 minutes.
- Extract 4-5 roasted garlic cloves and thoroughly mash into soft consistency. Integrate mashed garlic into caramelized onion mixture.
- Incorporate cream, grated Parmesan, and chopped parsley into onion-garlic mixture, creating a luxurious sauce.
- Drain pasta completely, transferring to serving plates. Generously ladle caramelized onion sauce over pasta.
- Finish dish by sprinkling additional Parmesan, fresh parsley, and cracked black pepper as elegant garnish.
Notes
- Slow-roast garlic at low temperature to develop rich, mellow flavor without burning, ensuring creamy and sweet taste.
- Use sweet onions like Vidalia for deeper caramelization and natural sweetness, reducing need for added sugar.
- Reserve roasted garlic-infused olive oil for drizzling over finished pasta or using in future recipes to maximize flavor complexity.
- Adjust cream quantity based on dietary preferences: use Greek yogurt for lighter version or coconut cream for dairy-free alternative.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 41 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 505
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 53g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 60mg