Caramelized Onion and Roasted Garlic Pasta

Ingredients

• 2 heads garlic, separated into cloves and peeled
• 6 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 large white onion, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 8 ounces heavy cream
• 4 cloves roasted garlic, or to taste
• 1/4 cup chopped chopped parsley, divided
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
• 8 ounces gemelli or other short pasta

Method

1. To roast garlic: Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Place the garlic cloves in a shallow baking dish and cover with olive oil. Lay the sprigs of thyme on top of the oil.
2. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 1 hour. Garlic should easily mash with a fork. Remove garlic from oil and set aside. Reserve oil for another use.
3. To caramelize onions: Heat a roomy skillet over medium heat. Add butter and olive oil. Add onions to the pan and stir to coat. Stir frequently and move onions around, ensuring they cook evenly.
4. Once onions have started to color a bit (about 15 minutes or so), add in water, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper. Continue to stir regularly until onions are completely soft, a golden brown color, and reduced by at least half, about 15 minutes more. Turn down the heat to medium low.
5. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add gemelli and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes.. Meanwhile, add cream, 4 to 5 cloves roasted garlic, 1 tablespoon parsley, and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese to onions; stir to combine. Reserve remaining roasted garlic for another use.
6. Drain pasta; divide among 4 plates. Spoon about a 1/4 cup of sauce on top; sprinkle with more Parmesan cheese, parsley, and black pepper.
7. Recipe tip: You can serve the sauce as-is (a little chunky), or use an immersion blender or food processor to blend until smooth.
8. Recipe tip: Nutrition for this recipe includes the full amount of olive oil and roasted garlic. The actual amount consumed will vary.