Description
A rich and flavorful Caramelized Onion and Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta featuring sweet caramelized onions, tangy sun-dried tomatoes, fresh thyme, and creamy cashew cream sauce, tossed with farfalle pasta and spinach for a deliciously indulgent yet easy-to-make vegetarian meal.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Sauce:
- 1 tbsp olive oil (or water)
- 2 yellow onions (thinly sliced)
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 6 sun-dried tomatoes (chopped)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1 cup pasta water (reserved from cooking pasta)
- 1/2 cup cashew cream (or vegan cream)
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
For the Pasta:
- 12 oz farfalle pasta
- 1 handful spinach (or fresh basil as alternative)
Instructions
- Prepare the base: Heat olive oil or water in a non-stick pan over medium heat. Add the thinly sliced onions, minced garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook over medium to low heat for about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally until the onions are deeply caramelized and sweet.
- Cook the pasta: While the onions caramelize, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook 12 oz farfalle pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve at least 1 1/2 cups of pasta water before draining.
- Deglaze and build the sauce: To the caramelized onions, add fresh thyme, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and 1/2 cup dry white wine. Stir to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits. Then pour in reserved pasta water and 1/2 cup cashew cream. Stir well until a creamy sauce forms.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the pan with the sauce, tossing to coat evenly. Add a handful of spinach leaves or fresh basil for freshness and wilt slightly in the heat.
- Season and serve: Taste and season the pasta with additional salt and freshly cracked black pepper as needed. Serve immediately for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- This pasta dish is indulgent yet simple enough for any home cook.
- Using cashew cream makes this recipe vegan-friendly and adds a luscious texture.
- Sun-dried tomato oil can be used to add extra flavor, substituting for olive oil.
- Spinach can be swapped with fresh basil for a slightly different aromatic finish.
- Be patient caramelizing onions over low heat for the deepest flavor development.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 472.1 kcal
- Sugar: 11.7 g
- Sodium: 497.4 mg
- Fat: 6.6 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 89 g
- Fiber: 2.4 g
- Protein: 15.7 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
