Ingredients
Vegetables and Herbs
- 5 small yellow onions, sliced (or 3 large)
- 1 head garlic, top sliced off
- ½ cup sun dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 handful fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 handful fresh basil, chopped
- 1 lemon, juiced
Spices and Seasonings
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried parsley
Dairy and Liquids
- ½ cup coconut milk
- Olive oil or leftover sun-dried tomato oil, for drizzling (about 2 tbsp)
Main Ingredient
- 3 cups farfalle pasta, cooked according to package directions
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for caramelizing the onions and tomatoes evenly.
- Prepare Casserole: In a casserole dish, combine the sliced onions, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, paprika, salt, black pepper, and dried parsley. Mix well to coat all the ingredients with the spices.
- Add Garlic and Oil: Place the whole garlic head, with the top sliced off, in the center of the dish. Drizzle olive oil or the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes over everything, making sure to cover all the ingredients lightly. Cover with foil to retain moisture.
- Bake and Toss: Place the covered casserole dish in the oven for 1 hour. Halfway through, remove the foil and toss the onions and tomatoes gently to ensure even caramelization, then cover and continue baking until deeply golden and soft.
- Cook Pasta: About 20 minutes before the onions are done, cook the farfalle pasta in boiling water according to package instructions, reserving up to 1 cup of the pasta water before draining.
- Prepare Garlic and Combine: Remove the garlic head from the casserole when it’s cool enough to handle. Squeeze out the softened garlic cloves and mix them into the caramelized onions and tomatoes.
- Finish the Dish: Add the chopped fresh parsley and basil, lemon juice, and coconut milk to the casserole dish. Stir in the cooked pasta, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce and achieve a creamy consistency.
- Serve: Give the pasta a good stir to combine all the flavors thoroughly and serve warm, garnished with extra fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
- You can substitute farfalle pasta with any other pasta shape such as penne or fusilli.
- Using leftover oil from the sun-dried tomatoes adds extra depth of flavor but olive oil works perfectly as well.
- Reserve pasta water carefully to adjust the sauce consistency without making it too watery.
- For a vegan version, this recipe is naturally vegan as it uses coconut milk instead of dairy.
- Caramelizing the onions slowly in the oven brings out their natural sweetness and avoids the need for additional sugars.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
- Diet: Vegan