Sweet Heat Caramelized Onion Fettuccine (Printable Version)
Rich fettuccine with golden caramelized onions, creamy parmesan sauce, and a touch of sweet heat for a perfectly balanced pasta dish.
# 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 Steps:
01 - Cook fettuccine in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
02 - Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onions and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions soften and begin to brown, about 10 minutes.
03 - Sprinkle brown sugar over onions and continue cooking, stirring frequently, until deeply caramelized and golden, 15-20 additional minutes.
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 - Transfer cooked fettuccine to the skillet. Toss thoroughly 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 additional Parmesan cheese.
# Helpful Tips:
01 -
- The caramelized onions develop a natural sweetness that perfectly complements the spicy kick
- It comes together in under an hour but tastes like something from a fancy Italian restaurant
02 -
- Do not rush the onion caramelizationthis is where all the deep flavor develops
- The sauce will thicken quickly once it hits the hot pasta, so do not add all the pasta water at once
03 -
- Slice your onions as thinly and evenly as possible for uniform caramelization
- Keep the heat at medium or lowerhigh heat will burn the onions before they sweeten