Sweet Heat Caramelized Onion Fettuccine (Printable)
Rich fettuccine with golden caramelized onions, creamy parmesan sauce, and a hint of honey-kissed spice.
# 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 for less heat
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 the fettuccine in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
02 - Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions soften and start to brown, about 10 minutes.
03 - Sprinkle in the brown sugar and continue to cook onions, stirring frequently, until deeply caramelized and golden, 15-20 more minutes.
04 - Add garlic and red chili pepper to the onions. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
05 - Stir in the honey, heavy cream, Parmesan, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Simmer gently for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
06 - Add cooked fettuccine to the 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.
08 - Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The onions transform into something sweet and savory that feels way more sophisticated than the humble ingredients suggest
- That honey and cream combo creates the most velvety sauce that clings to every strand of fettuccine
02 -
- Caramelizing onions takes patience and you cannot rush this step or you will miss out on that deep sweetness
- Adding cold cream to a hot pan can sometimes cause it to break, so let it come to room temperature first
03 -
- Thinly slice your onions as evenly as possible so they caramelize at the same rate
- That pasta water is liquid gold, do not dump it down the drain