Recipe: Pasta with Yogurt and Caramelized Onions

I've been really hungry all day for some reason, so I decided to use it as as exuse to post a recipe. :) This almost looks too easy to be true, but from what I can tell it should work and pull together into a really tasty dish. For a little more protein, I think grilled chicken would go nicely too.

Pasta with Yogurt and Caramelized Onions

Author Notes: This secret just might change your life: you can, and should, dress pasta with Greek yogurt, especially if you also then top it with caramelized onions and grated pecorino. Adapted slightiy from The Glorious Foods of Greece (William Morrow Cookbooks, 2001).

Serves 4 to 6

• 5tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 6cups coarsely chopped onions
• Sea salt
• 1pound tagliatelle or other fresh pasta
• 2cups thick, strained Greek-style yogurt (see note)
• 1 cup coarsely grated kefalotyri cheese, or pecorino Romano

1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the onions. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook, stirring frequently and seasoning with salt to taste as you go, until the onions are soft and golden brown, 20 to 30 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. As the water heats, add enough salt so that you can taste it. Add the pasta and cook until soft, not al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water. Combine the yogurt with 1/4 cup cooking water and mix well. Add more of the reserved past water as needed to get the sauce to your thickness. Drain the pasta and toss with the yogurt mixture.
3. Serve the pasta immediately, sprinkled generously with cheese and topped with caramelized onions and their juices.
4. Note: If not using thick, Greek yogurt, line a colander with cheesecloth and set over a bowl or in the sink. Add the yogurt and let drain for 2 hours before proceeding with step 1. For a treat, seek out sheep's milk yogurt for this.

 

 


Enjoy and happy cooking!


~ Katie