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Hey pasta lovers! If you’re craving something cozy, cheesy, and full of flavor, this Caramelized Onion and Roasted Garlic Pasta Recipe is just the recipe for you! The slow-cooked caramelized onions give this dish a sweet and savory richness, while the roasted garlic adds a wonderful depth of flavor. This dish is easy to make, and it’s perfect for those nights when you want something comforting yet deliciously indulgent. Let’s dive in and make this tasty pasta together!
Method
Caramelize the Onions
To start, heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot or sauté pan over medium/low heat. Once the oil is warm, add the thinly sliced onions to the pan. Stir them around to ensure they are evenly coated with the oil. Then, spread the onions out evenly in the pan and let them cook for about 45 minutes. Stir the onions every few minutes, making sure they don’t burn but have enough time to stick slightly to the bottom of the pan. Letting them brown on the bottom adds rich, jammy flavor to the dish. This process is all about patience, so allow the onions to continue cooking until they become a deep, golden-brown color with a sweet, caramelized aroma.
Roast the Garlic
While the onions are caramelizing, it’s time to roast the garlic. Cut the top off a whole head of garlic to expose all of the cloves inside. Drizzle a little bit of olive oil over the exposed cloves, and then wrap the entire garlic head in aluminum foil. Place the foil-wrapped garlic into the oven and bake it at 400ºF for 45-60 minutes. The garlic should become soft and golden when it’s done. This slow-roasting process brings out the garlic’s natural sweetness and makes it easy to smash into the caramelized onions later
Boil the Pasta
With the onions nearly done and the garlic nearing its roasted perfection, it’s time to cook the linguini. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the linguini according to the package instructions. Be sure to reserve at least 2 cups of the pasta water before draining. This pasta water is important because it will help adjust the consistency of the sauce later, ensuring it’s the perfect texture to coat your pasta.
Make the Sauce
Now, it’s time to combine the caramelized onions and roasted garlic to form the base of the sauce. To the pan with the onions, add fresh thyme, salt, and black pepper to taste. Then, take the roasted garlic cloves out of their skins and use a wooden spoon to smash them into the onions. This adds depth and richness to the flavor, making the base of your sauce both sweet and savory. The combination of thyme and garlic will infuse the sauce with wonderful aromatic flavors.
Combine and Create the Perfect Sauce
After smashing the garlic into the onions, pour in the heavy cream and one cup of the reserved pasta water. Stir everything together, ensuring you scrape up all the brown bits from the bottom of the pan to incorporate that deep, caramelized flavor into the sauce. Continue stirring until the sauce becomes smooth and thick, creating a velvety base that will coat the pasta perfectly. If the sauce seems too thick, add more pasta water, a little at a time, until you reach the desired consistency.
Toss the Pasta
Once the sauce is ready, it’s time to bring everything together. Add the cooked linguini directly into the sauce, stirring gently to ensure every strand of pasta is coated with the creamy, flavorful sauce. If the sauce feels too thick, simply add a bit more reserved pasta water to loosen it up. Continue stirring until the pasta is perfectly coated in the sauce.
Top and Serve
Finally, plate your pasta and top it generously with shredded Gruyere cheese. The cheese will melt beautifully into the sauce, adding a rich, creamy finish. Serve immediately and enjoy the delicious combination of sweet caramelized onions, roasted garlic, and cheesy goodness!
Necessary Tools
- Large, heavy-bottomed pot or sauté pan
- Aluminum foil (for roasting garlic)
- Knife and cutting board
- Wooden spoon
- Pasta pot for boiling the linguini
- Cheese grater (for the Gruyere)
Caramelized Onion And Roasted Garlic Pasta Recipe
Cuisine: AmericanDifficulty: EasyServings
4
servingsPrep time
10
minutesCooking time
1
hour30
minutesTotal time
1
hour40
minutesIngredients
2 tbsp olive oil (plus a little extra for roasting the garlic)
3 large yellow onions, sliced thin
1 head of garlic
2 tsp fresh thyme
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp salt (more to taste)
1 pound linguini
1/2 cup heavy cream
Gruyere cheese (for serving)
Directions
- Caramelize the Onions
Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium/low heat. Add the sliced onions and stir to coat them evenly. Let the onions cook for about 45 minutes, stirring every few minutes. As they cook, they’ll start to stick to the bottom of the pan. Don’t worry let them brown a bit before scraping them up. This adds to the deep, jammy flavor that’s key to this dish. Keep cooking until they’re rich and caramelized. - Roast the Garlic
While the onions are cooking, roast the garlic. Cut the top off the garlic head to expose the cloves, drizzle with a little olive oil, and wrap it in foil. Place it in the oven at 400ºF for 45-60 minutes. The garlic should be soft and golden once it’s done. - Boil the Pasta
When the onions are almost done, and the garlic is nearing its roasted perfection, cook the linguini according to the package instructions. Don’t forget to save about 2 cups of that salty pasta water it’s going to help make the sauce perfect later! - Make the Sauce
To the caramelized onions, add the fresh thyme, salt, black pepper, and the roasted garlic. Smash the garlic cloves with a spoon and mix them into the onions. This creates an amazing base for the sauce. - Combine and Create the Perfect Sauce
Now, pour in the heavy cream and one cup of pasta water. Stir everything together, scraping the brown bits off the bottom of the pan to create a smooth, thick sauce. This is the flavor magic! - Toss the Pasta
Add the cooked pasta to the sauce, stirring it until every noodle is coated. If the sauce is too thick, add more pasta water until it reaches the perfect consistency. - Top and Serve
Serve your pasta with a generous amount of shredded Gruyere cheese on top. The cheese melts into the sauce, making each bite extra creamy and cheesy!
Notes
- Keep an eye on the onions As they cook, they’ll stick to the bottom of the pan, and that’s a good thing! But make sure you’re scraping them off and stirring regularly so they don’t burn.
- Roast the garlic slowly Garlic can burn quickly if roasted at too high a temperature. Make sure you wrap it tightly in foil and bake it at 400ºF to get the perfect, soft, sweet garlic.
- Adjust the pasta water If the sauce is too thick after adding the pasta, don’t worry! Just add a bit more pasta water to thin it out and get that silky sauce texture.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve this dish with a side of garlic bread for extra flavor.
- Pair with a fresh salad of mixed greens for a light, refreshing contrast.
- For a special touch, top with extra roasted garlic or a sprinkle of fresh herbs like basil or parsley.
Fun Fact
Did you know that caramelized onions are super sweet? As they cook, the natural sugars in the onions break down and turn into that golden-brown sweetness we love! It’s like the onions are having a little party in the pan.
Conclusion
And there you have it! This Caramelized Onion and Roasted Garlic Pasta is the perfect comfort food for any night of the week. With its rich, creamy sauce and cheesy topping, it’s sure to be a hit with anyone who tries it. The blend of sweet caramelized onions and roasted garlic creates a flavor-packed dish that will have you coming back for seconds. Give it a try and enjoy the cozy, satisfying meal you deserve!
