I’ve seen other pasta dishes that are similar to this one, with thinly sliced caramelized onions intertwined with spaghetti. It’s almost as if they’re in camouflage, their lithe lankiness assimilating amongst the pasta. My husband, alas, is no fan of onions so I usually end up choosing recipes where they’re not too prominent. But then I thought about that Jessica Seinfeld cookbook where she hides butternut squash in mac & cheese so the kids won’t know they’re eating vegetables. This recipe sounded so enticing and the onions had a rather stealth presence…perhaps my better half would enjoy the dish so much he wouldn’t mind?
Ha ha – it worked!
He cleaned his plate. And because I can never really keep a secret, I did let him know beforehand there were onions but urged him to give it a chance nonetheless. He thought it was delicious, as did I.
The “sauce” in this pasta is more like a savory, thyme-scented broth. In the recipe, the aromatics are sautéed and then you add water and the tomatoes and bring it all to a simmer. I added slivered garlic to the mix as pasta, to me, deserves garlic. For the most part the tomatoes remained intact, bursting just slightly. But, of course, most of them succumbed to the wrath of my silicone tongs once I went to toss the sauce with the pasta and pecorino romano.
Each flavor in this dish complemented the others so well, from the gentle sweetness of the onions and tomatoes to the nuttiness of the pasta to the salty bite of the hard cheese. It’s definitely one worth trying – for onion lovers and haters alike.
Whole Grain Spaghetti with Cherry Tomatoes & Pecorino Romano
Adapted from the Thin Spaghetti with Cherry Tomatoes and Pecorino Romano Cheese recipe from the Barilla Whole Grain Thin Spaghetti box
INGREDIENTS:
16 oz package whole grain thin spaghetti (it’s fine to substitute regular spaghetti)
1 large red onion, thinly sliced
2 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, divided
1 1/2 pints (3 cups) cherry tomatoes
3/4 cup water
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup pecorino romano cheese, grated
DIRECTIONS:
Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, sauté the onion and thyme in half of the olive oil over low heat for 7 minutes. Add in garlic and sauté for another 5 minutes.
Add cherry tomatoes and water and simmer for 8 minutes. Season the sauce with salt and pepper.
Drain pasta and toss with the sauce. Add cheese and remaining olive oil and toss again. Garnish with an additional sprinkling of thyme and cheese.
My SO loves onions, but hates tomatos, though I can’t keep ketchup in the house and he loves tomato sauce…go figure. If I put 2 cherry tomatos in his salad, they’re on the side of the plate when he’s done. Men! Love the new blog.
Arlene’s last blog post..LASAGNA OF EMILIA-ROMAGNA
Well I love pasta, period. This sounds fabulous. I’m in awe that you’ve begun a second cooking blog. One is quite a bit of work. Congrats to you —
kellypea’s last blog post..Spinach Lasagne with Ragu alla Bolognese
I love your idea for this blog! And I am so glad you did this post, because my husband hates onions, so I am totally going to try this one out on him! Looks delicious.
Hi Kathy,
Huh, funny. My husband doesn’t much like onions either! 😉 Great blog, love the idea! (Btw, my mom never put nuts in her Tollhouse cookies. I still like them better without, too.)
Fresh, fresh dish! Oh yes, this looks good.
The Duo Dishes’s last blog post..Going Nuts in the Kitchen
Kathy, what a great idea for a blog! I love this. (I have no idea how you have time for it, but I love it! lol). I have a few boxes in my pantry that I stare at EVERY time I go in thinking, hmmm some day I need to try the recipe on that box… I’m excited to see what shows up here. Congrats on a fun new project!
-Sara
Sara @ Our Best Bites’s last blog post..Pizzookies
Yay! Love the concept of the new blog! Someone told me once that the recipes on the sides of boxes are the best. Since they want you to buy the product again, they really have to be the best! This one looks like a great one! Now, you’ll be looking at recipes on the packaging when you go shopping!
RecipeGirl’s last blog post..How to Make Dulce de Leche (a really easy oven-method)…
Great idea for a blog. This dish looks wonderful!
Cheri’s last blog post..Tomato Goat Cheese Tart
I am officially starving now! Thanks! And very little to eat in the house. I can’t believe all these recipes are on the boxes. They look sooooo good!
Nicole’s last blog post..Caramel Rolls- A breakfast treat, dessert or indulgent snack
I’ve seen this recipe before but never knew it’d be so delicious or beautiful! Once I get some fresh tomatoes in the house, this will be on our plates!
Kara’s last blog post..The Long and Short of It
Looks great! I can’t wait to try it tonight as I have everything I need at home. You must be like me –you can’t pass up a farm stand. That’s why I have the cherry tomatoes.. Thanks.