🍝 Caramelized Onion Pasta with Chili Oil

Ingredients

• 8 oz (225 g) spaghetti or linguine
• 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
• 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp butter
• ½ cup vegetable or chicken broth
• ½ cup heavy cream
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1–2 tbsp chili oil or chili crisp
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp red pepper flakes, optional
• Salt, to taste
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• ¼ cup reserved pasta water

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. Cook the pasta:
   Boil pasta in well-salted water until al dente. Reserve about ¼ cup pasta water, then drain.
2. Caramelize the onions:
   Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add sliced onions and a pinch of salt. Cook for 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until deeply golden and caramelized.
3. Add garlic:
   Stir in minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Build the sauce:
   Pour in the broth and scrape up the browned bits from the pan. Add heavy cream, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 2–3 minutes.
5. Add Parmesan:
   Stir in Parmesan until the sauce becomes smooth and creamy.
6. Toss with pasta:
   Add the cooked pasta and toss well. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if needed to make the sauce silky and glossy.
7. Finish with chili oil:
   Drizzle generously with chili oil/chili crisp and gently toss—or spoon it over the top like in the video.
8. Garnish & serve:
   Finish with fresh parsley, extra Parmesan, and another drizzle of chili oil. 🌶️🍝

🔥 Tip: The secret is taking your time with the onions. The darker and more caramelized they become, the richer and sweeter the pasta will taste.