Sweet Heat Caramelized Onion Fettuccine (Printable)
Caramelized onion fettuccine with sweet heat sauce, creamy Parmesan finish
# What You Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 14 oz fettuccine
→ Caramelized Onions
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
04 - 3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
05 - 2 tbsp brown sugar
06 - 1 tsp salt
→ Sweet Heat Sauce
07 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 red chili pepper, finely chopped, seeds removed
09 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
10 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
11 - 1 tbsp honey
12 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
13 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
→ Garnish
14 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
15 - Extra grated Parmesan cheese
# How to Make It:
01 - Cook fettuccine in large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
02 - Heat olive oil and butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onions and salt. Cook stirring occasionally until onions soften and start to brown, about 10 minutes.
03 - Sprinkle brown sugar over onions. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until deeply caramelized and golden, 15-20 minutes longer.
04 - Stir in minced garlic and chopped red chili pepper. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
05 - Add honey, heavy cream, Parmesan, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Simmer gently for 2-3 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
06 - Add cooked fettuccine to skillet. Toss well to coat, adding reserved pasta water one tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
07 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve hot garnished with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The onions become like candy, but with a savory depth that makes you want to stand over the stove eating them straight from the pan
- That unexpected hit of honey and chili makes this pasta feel fancy enough for dinner guests but simple enough for Tuesday nights
02 -
- Caramelizing onions cannot be rushed, lower heat is better than burning them to a crisp
- The sauce thickens quickly off heat, so remove from flame as soon as it coats a spoon
03 -
- Slice onions as thinly as possible for even caramelization
- Room temperature cream incorporates more smoothly than cold