Caramelized Onion, Goat Cheese and Rosemary Mac 'n' Cheese
 
Cook time
Total time
 
I used a combination of goat's milk butter, goat cheese and pasta water to make the uber-creamy sauce. The pasta is creamiest when served right away - goat cheese sauce tends to seize up a bit once it cools down. Reserve some extra pasta water and use it to heat the leftovers up on the stove for best second-day results.
Author:
Recipe type: Pasta
Serves: 6
Ingredients
  • 2 large yellow onions, peeled and vertically sliced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 pound (16 ounces) whole-wheat rigatoni pasta
  • Generous pinch kosher salt
  • ½ cup goat's milk butter
  • 10.5 ounces fresh goat cheese
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary, plus more for garnish
  • Coarse salt and freshly-ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
  1. Make the caramelized onions: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook for 5-6 minutes or until onions are soft, stirring occasionally, so they don't brown. Turn heat down to medium low and cook another 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, so onions don't stick to the pan. When nicely brown and caramelized, transfer onions to a food processor and chop for about 10-15 seconds or until they just begin to form a paste. Set aside.
  2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and add a generous pinch of kosher salt. Add the rigatoni to the boiling water and cook it until al dente, about 7-8 minutes.
  3. While the pasta is cooking, melt the goat's milk butter in a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Stir in the rosemary, salt and pepper. Next, add the caramelized onions and goat cheese to the pan and cook, stirring until the cheese is melted and the sauce is creamy, about 2-3 minutes.
  4. Drain the pasta when it's done cooking, reserving ½ cup pasta water. Add the pasta to the goat cheese sauce along with ¼ cup pasta water. Stir until the pasta is completely coated in sauce. Add more pasta water if the sauce is too thick. Keep the remaining pasta water for heating up leftovers.
  5. Garnish the pasta with more chopped rosemary and black pepper. Serve immediately.
Recipe by Healthy Recipe Ecstasy at https://www.healthyrecipeecstasy.com/caramelized-onion-goat-cheese-rosemary-mac-n-cheese-birthday/