Spinach Mushrooms Caramelized Onions

A velvety, creamy vegetarian pasta recipe that is a trifecta of mouthwatering flavors. The sweetness of the caramelized onions, the earthiness of the spinach and mushrooms, covered in the smooth parmesan based cheese sauce, makes for one fantastic dish.

Adapted from : laaloosh.com

INGREDIENTS :

Pasta

• 8 oz farfalle pasta

Creamy pasta sauce

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 10 oz mushrooms , sliced (I used button mushrooms)
• 6 oz spinach
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese , shredded
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Caramelized onions

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 yellow onions , large, sliced
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

INSTRUCTIONS :

How to caramelize onions:

• Number one : Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil on medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add sliced onions and cook on high heat for about 10 minutes, constantly stirring with the spatula.
• Number two : The onions should start to brown, but without burning.
• Number three : Reduce heat to medium and continue cooking onions for 10 more minutes, continuing to stir, as onions brown even more without burning. At this point add a pinch of salt over onions.
• Number four : Continue cooking for 10 more minutes on medium or low heat, stirring occasionally to make sure onions don’t stick to the bottom of the pan or burn.
• Number five : In total, you should have cooked onions for 30 minutes.
• Number six : Remove the skillet from heat and sprinkle the onions with a small amount of balsamic vinegar to deglaze the pan.
• Number seven : Using a spatula, stir the onions, scraping the bottom of the pan and coating onions with a pinch of balsamic vinegar you just added. Remove caramelized onions to a plate.
• Number eight : How to cook mushrooms and spinach:
• Number nine : Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in the same skillet on medium heat. Add sliced mushrooms. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt.
• Number ten : Cook mushrooms for about 5 minutes, occasionally stirring, until mushrooms are soft.
• Number eleven : Add fresh spinach to the skillet and stir on low heat just until spinach starts to wilt.

How to make creamy pasta sauce:

• Number one : Add half-and-half to the mushroom and spinach mixture and bring to a quick boil. Number two : Immediately reduce to simmer.
• Number three : Add 2/3 cup of shredded Parmesan cheese and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Keep stirring while the sauce simmers until the cheese melts.
• Number four : Add caramelized onions back to the skillet with the pasta sauce.

Cook pasta:

• Number one : Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain.
• Number two : Add cooked and drained farfalle pasta to the creamy sauce. Stir on low heat for a couple of minutes to reheat.
• Number three : If the sauce is too thick, add a small amount of half-and-half to thin it out. If it is too thin, add a small amount of shredded Parmesan cheese, and stir it in, while the sauce simmers.
• Number four : Serve with more shredded parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.