Description
A comforting one-pot pasta dish inspired by French onion soup, featuring caramelized onions, creamy Gruyère cheese, and lumache pasta, all cooked together for rich flavor and minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 5½ cups water
- 1 pound lumache or other medium shell pasta
- 1 ounce Parmesan, finely grated (about ½ cup)
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 8 ounces Gruyère, coarsely grated (about 2 cups)
- Thinly sliced chives (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large, high-sided ovenproof skillet or another large pot over medium-high heat.
- Add the thinly sliced onions with a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally and deglazing with water if needed, until deeply caramelized and jammy, about 30–35 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and thyme, cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Pour in the white wine, cook for 3 minutes until reduced by half.
- Add the water and bring to a simmer.
- Stir in the pasta and cook, stirring often, until most of the liquid is absorbed and the pasta is al dente, about 10–14 minutes.
- Stir in Parmesan, butter, Dijon mustard, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and Gruyère cheese until melted and creamy.
- Serve hot, topped with optional chives.
Notes
- Use vegetable broth instead of beef broth for a vegetarian version.
- Swap dairy products with vegan alternatives for a vegan option.
- Add red pepper flakes for a spicier version.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat gently with a splash of water or broth to loosen the sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 70g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
