I’m excited to share this vegan caramelized onion pasta recipe — one of my most popular posts on Instagram. Lately I’ve been adding more carbohydrates to my diet on the advice of my GI doctor, and rediscovering the simple pleasure of a big, comforting bowl of pasta. That made me question why pasta ever carries a stigma of guilt.
In wellness culture, certain foods are sometimes labeled “good” or “bad,” which can attach moral value to everyone’s choices. While it’s true that heavily processed snacks aren’t as nutritious as a bowl of steamed vegetables, food shouldn’t be a moral scoreboard. Eating a bag of chips or a plate of pasta doesn’t make anyone a better or worse person. Our food choices are personal and depend on our bodies and circumstances, so there’s no reason to judge others or feel ashamed for what we enjoy.
This caramelized onion pasta is meant to be enjoyed without guilt. It uses only a handful of simple ingredients but delivers deep, savory-sweet flavor from slowly caramelized onions, brightened by a squeeze of lemon. If you haven’t caramelized onions before, The Kitchn has an excellent guide that explains the technique clearly and will help you get perfect results. I hope you enjoy this dish!
Caramelized Onion Pasta
Ingredients
- 12 oz Casarecce pasta or other pasta such as ziti or penne
- 3 medium Vidalia onions
- extra virgin olive oil for sautéing
- juice from 1–2 lemons to taste
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
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Prep the onions: cut each onion in half, then slice the halves thinly into C-shaped strips.
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Heat a little olive oil in a sauté pan over medium-low. Add the onions and cook slowly for about an hour, stirring every 5–10 minutes. Keep the heat low enough that the onions soften and brown without burning. Slow caramelization takes time but yields deep, sweet flavor. For more details on technique, see The Kitchn’s guide on caramelizing onions.
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While the onions cook, prepare the pasta according to package directions. I used casarecce, but ziti, penne, rotini, or fusilli all work. Drain the pasta and return it to the pot.
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When the onions are deeply browned and fragrant, scrape them into the pot with the pasta and toss to combine. Add lemon juice to taste, and season with salt and pepper. Adjust flavors as needed.
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Serve warm and enjoy.
https://wellandfull.com/2016/06/vegan-caramelized-onion-pasta/
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P.S.
If you make this recipe and post it on Instagram, tag me @wellandfull and use #wellandfull so I can see your photos — I love seeing your takes on my recipes!