Caramelized Onion Chili Oil Pasta (Print-Friendly Format)

Sweet caramelized onions meet zingy chili oil in this comforting, flavor-packed pasta bursting with richness.

# Ingredients You’ll Need:

→ For the Pasta

01 - 340 g dried pasta, such as spaghetti, penne, or linguine
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - Salt, to taste
06 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ For the Chili Oil

07 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
08 - 1 small garlic clove, thinly sliced
09 - 1 tablespoon dried red chili flakes
10 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 1 teaspoon soy sauce

→ For Garnishing

12 - Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
13 - Fresh basil or parsley, chopped
14 - Extra chili flakes, optional

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium heat. Add the thinly sliced onions and a pinch of salt. Sauté, stirring occasionally, for 25–30 minutes until golden brown and caramelized. Add the minced garlic during the last 5 minutes and cook until fragrant. Season with black pepper and additional salt to taste.
02 - In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine 3 tablespoons olive oil and thinly sliced garlic. Sauté 1–2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to brown. Add chili flakes and smoked paprika, stirring constantly for 2–3 minutes. Stir in soy sauce, simmer an additional 2 minutes, then remove from heat.
03 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 240 ml pasta cooking water before draining. Drain the pasta and set aside.
04 - Return the cooked pasta to the pot or a large pan. Add caramelized onions and toss thoroughly to coat the pasta with the onions.
05 - Drizzle the infused chili oil over the pasta mixture and toss well. If the mixture appears dry, gradually add reserved pasta water until the sauce lightly coats all the pasta.
06 - Serve hot, garnished generously with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh chopped basil or parsley. For additional spice, sprinkle with extra chili flakes as desired.

# Extra Tips:

01 - Caramelizing the onions slowly develops complex sweetness; do not rush this critical step.
02 - For a fully vegetarian presentation, confirm the Parmesan cheese is made without animal rennet.

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