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–+ servings
Caramelized Onion Pasta

Caramelized Onion Pasta

There’s something so comforting about a bowl of caramelized onion pasta — rich, flavorful, and made with simple pantry ingredients. This recipe skips the heavy cream but still gives you that silky, restaurant-style texture, thanks to a smooth cashew cream sauce. The star of this dish is the caramelized onion, and here’s the trick — getting it perfectly golden and sweet takes patience and the right technique. 
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Course Dinner, Pasta
Cuisine Fusion Food
Servings 2 people

Equipment

  • 1 Blender

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients

  • Spaghetti
  • 2 tbsp avocado oil
  • 1 onion thinly sliced
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 tbsp garlic minced
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • Black pepper to taste
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp chili oil crisp
  • Grated parmesan
  • Pasta water as needed

Cashew Cream Sauce

  • ¾ cup raw cashews
  • ¾ cup water
  • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • ½ tbsp lemon juice
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Garnish

  • Drizzle of chili oil
  • Fresh parsley chopped
  • More grated parmesan

Instructions
 

Prep the Cashew Cream

  • Soak raw cashews in warm water for 15 minutes.
  • Blend with water, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth.
  • Set aside — this is your dairy-free cream base.

Caramelize the Onions

  • Heat avocado oil in a skillet over low heat.
  • Add the thinly sliced onions and a pinch of salt.
  • Stir occasionally for 15–20 minutes until golden brown.
  • Halfway through, add butter to help them caramelize evenly.
  • If onions start crisping instead of softening, splash in a bit of pasta water to keep them moist.

Build the Sauce

  • Once onions are deep golden, add minced garlic and cook until fragrant.
  • Stir in soy sauce and chili oil crisp.
  • Sprinkle paprika, Italian seasoning, and black pepper.
  • Toss to coat everything — it should smell amazing at this point.

Combine with Pasta

  • Cook spaghetti until al dente, then reserve a cup of pasta water.
  • Add cooked pasta into the onion mixture.
  • Pour in the cashew cream and a handful of parmesan.
  • Toss well on low heat, adding pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
  • The sauce should cling to each strand of pasta without being too thick.

Garnish and Serve

  • Plate the pasta and drizzle chili oil on top.
  • Sprinkle parsley and more parmesan.
  • Serve warm — every bite is creamy, spicy, and savory.
Keyword caramelized onion pasta, caramelized onion pasta no cream, creamy pasta without cream, pasta sauce with caramelized onions, dairy free caramelized onion pasta, caramelized onion spaghetti, caramelized onion recipe, healthy creamy pasta
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