Sweet Heat Caramelized Onion Fettuccine (Printable)
Fettuccine with sweet caramelized onions, creamy honey-parmesan sauce, and gentle spicy heat for a balanced Italian-American pasta experience.
# Ingredient List:
→ 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 for serving
# Directions:
01 - Cook fettuccine in large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.
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 and continue cooking onions, stirring frequently, until deeply caramelized and golden, 15-20 more minutes.
04 - Add garlic and red chili pepper to onions. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
05 - Stir in 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 sauce reaches desired consistency.
07 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve hot garnished with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The onions transform into something candy sweet and deeply savory in the most unexpected way
- That subtle heat at the end keeps you coming back for bite after bite
02 -
- Caramelizing onions properly takes patience and rushing this step is the difference between good pasta and great pasta
- The pasta water is your secret weapon for creating that glossy restaurant style sauce
03 -
- Slice your onions as thinly and uniformly as possible for even caramelization
- Keep the heat at medium or lower, high heat burns the onions instead of caramelizing them