Description
Caramelized onion and sundried tomato spaghetti combines Mediterranean flavors with rustic comfort. Simmered onions and tangy tomatoes create a rich pasta experience you’ll want to savor again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 10 oz (285g) spaghetti or linguine (can use gluten-free)
- 2 medium yellow onions, very thinly sliced
- 1 5.3 oz (150g) tube of tomato paste
- 4–5 large oil-packed sundried tomatoes, finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsps extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsps tamari (or soy sauce)
- 2 tbsps nutritional yeast
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- Kosher salt or sea salt to taste
- Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- Water to deglaze the pan
- Toasted pine nuts
- Chopped flat-leaf Italian parsley
Instructions
- Boil Preparation: Fill a large pot with water, generously salt, and bring to a vigorous boil, then cook spaghetti according to package instructions until perfectly al dente.
- Liquid Preservation: Reserve one cup of starchy pasta water before draining, which will become crucial for sauce development.
- Onion Transformation: Heat olive oil in a wide skillet over high heat, add thinly sliced onions, season with salt and pepper, and caramelize for 15 minutes, occasionally deglazing with water to prevent burning.
- Aromatic Enhancement: Reduce heat to medium, introduce garlic slivers, and cook until golden, then sprinkle red pepper flakes and dried oregano to awaken their essence.
- Sauce Foundation: Incorporate tomato paste, stirring until color deepens, then blend tamari, nutritional yeast, and sundried tomatoes into the skillet mixture.
- Sauce Refinement: Simmer gently, pour reserved pasta water to create a silky sauce, then add cooked spaghetti and toss vigorously to ensure complete coating.
- Finishing Touches: Adjust sauce consistency with additional pasta water if needed, garnish with toasted pine nuts and freshly chopped Italian parsley, then serve immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Maximize Pasta Water: Reserve a cup of starchy cooking liquid to create a silky, emulsified sauce that helps ingredients cling perfectly to spaghetti.
- Caramelize with Patience: Slowly cook onions and garlic over medium heat, taking 15-25 minutes, to develop deep, rich flavor foundations without burning.
- Flavor Layering Technique: Add ingredients sequentially – starting with onions, then garlic, spices, and tomato paste – to build complex, harmonious taste profiles.
- Strategic Seasoning: Balance salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and herbs throughout cooking to enhance and develop nuanced flavor depths in the sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 0mg