Description
A delicious pasta dish featuring caramelized onions, cheeses, and a rich sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian version)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 200 grams pasta (fusilli or any short-cut pasta)
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1 cup grated Gruyère cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Caramelize the Onions: In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add the sliced onions, salt, and sugar. Stir well and cook slowly, stirring every few minutes, for about 30–40 minutes. The onions should turn a rich, golden brown and become soft and sweet.
- Build the Flavor: Once caramelized, stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute. Sprinkle in the flour and stir to coat the onions—this helps thicken the sauce later. Cook for another minute or two.
- Deglaze and Simmer: Pour in the beef broth and use your spoon to scrape up the browned bits at the bottom of the pan. Add the Dijon mustard and thyme. Let the mixture simmer for 10–15 minutes until slightly reduced.
- Boil the Pasta: While the onion mixture simmers, cook the pasta in a large pot of salted water according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
- Combine and Cheese It Up: Add the drained pasta to the onion mixture and toss to coat. Stir in half of the Gruyère, mozzarella, and Parmesan, adding a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed.
- Top and Broil: Preheat your broiler. Transfer the pasta to a baking dish or leave it in the oven-safe skillet. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and broil for 3–5 minutes until bubbly and golden.
Notes
- This recipe can be adapted for vegetarians by using vegetable broth.
- Feel free to add other vegetables or proteins, such as spinach or chicken, for a heartier dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop, Broil
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 60mg