Caramelized Cabbage and Onion Pasta with Bread Crumbs

In this delicious vegetarian dish, thinly sliced cabbage gets cooked down with onions in olive oil until sweet and caramelized. When tossed with toasted buttery bread crumbs, pasta, and parmesan cheese- it makes for one amazing dish!

Caramelized Cabbage and Onion Pasta with Bread Crumbs
(Adapted from The New York Times)
((Printable Recipe))

Ingredients:
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3-4 slices fresh bread, torn into pieces
2 tablespoons fresh sage
1/4 teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste
sea salt to taste
1 pound whole wheat pasta, cooked al dente in salted water
1/4 cup reserved pasta water
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 small to medium sized head cabbage
2 large yellow onions, sliced thin
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, to taste
Toasted walnuts, chopped (optional)

Directions:
1. In a food processor, place the garlic, fresh sage, and bread pieces. Pulse in the food processor until you have fine bread crumbs.

2. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a skillet and add the bread crumbs. Stir and toast for about 2 to 3 minutes. Turn off the heat and set aside.

3. In a large skillet, turn on the heat to medium-high and add the olive oil, crushed red pepper flakes, and the remaining garlic. When the oil is hot, add the sliced onion and cabbage, along with a pinch of salt.  Stir the cabbage and onions until they begin to reduce and caramelize, about 15 minutes.

4. Add a 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water to deglaze the pan. Scrape the bottom of the pan with the water to release all the brown bits that have formed on the bottom of the pan.

5. Toss your cabbage/onion mixture in with the pasta and bread crumbs.  Serve with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Top with toasted walnuts and adjust seasoning to taste.

Linked to: Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen, The Real Food Forager 

Featured on Foodbuzz Top 9

Pasta with Caramelized Onions and Spinach

If you have the patience to allow onions to caramelize, this dish is easy, affordable and absolutely delicious.  This has been a go-to meal that my whole family has loved for several years now.

Pasta with Caramelized Onions and Spinach
((Printable Recipe))

Ingredients:
3 large onions,  cut in half and thinly sliced (I used red, but any will do)
6 cups fresh baby spinach leaves, washed and dried
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 pound pasta (I used whole wheat)
salt and pepper to taste
parmesan cheese for topping

Directions:
1. In a large skillet heat the olive oil over medium heat.  Add the onions and a pinch of salt.  Stir to coat with the oil.  Lower the heat and cover without stirring for about 15 minutes.  Remove the lid and stir the onions. Continue cooking them over a medium low heat for about 30 minutes with the lid off, stirring occasionally.  When the onions begin to brown, add a few tablespoons of water and scrape up the brown bits with a wooden spoon.

2. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. When the onions are almost done, add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente.

3. As the pasta cooks, add the thyme, a few cracks of fresh pepper and the spinach. Stir the spinach around until it begins to wilt.

4. Drain the pasta and reserve a 1/2 cup of the cooking water.  Use this to thin the onions a little to make a nice sauce.  Return the pasta to the pot and drizzle with an extra tablespoon of olive oil then toss in the onion/spinach mixture. Thin with more pasta water as needed.  Top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.