Pappardelle with Caramelized Onions and Crispy Kale
Some days I just need things to be easy.
Okay, most days I need things to be easy. There are a few days that I feel up to a challenge like say, scrubbing my obnoxious bathroom floor tiles with this weird baking soda/lemon juice/dish soap paste because nothing else will make it look clean, because it is definitely the kind of floor that should be waxed and it definitely does not have anything on it resembling wax.
Most days I am partial to my Swiffer wet jet thingy, but it's about to be the holidays, and we are about to have guests for gift exchanges and such, so challenge it is.
Meh.
Other things that I need to be easy: getting my boys to put their laundry away correctly (for example, clean folded laundry should not be stacked at the foot of your bed only to be kicked into the floor while you sleep and then trampled when you get ready for school in the morning), convincing Norma Jean that the Christmas tree is not her personal play thing, and shopping for a new car.
Gahhhhh, talk about annoying.
The only thing that's been really easy for me so far this week is online shopping. Not so sure that's the greatest thing to come with ease, but it's Christmas-present-buying-time and it's making me happy. I LOVE buying people presents. Too bad I didn't manage to win that lottery last week.
Oh hey-- random thought on having guests and entertaining: does anyone know where to find a Yule Log DVD? There was a channel you could put the TV on when I used to work for the cable company that just aired a pretty log burning in a fireplace. I need that. On DVD. It would be great, right? And kinda cheesy. I like cheesy.
And I'm still all about easy (because the bathroom floor got the best of me and I don't wanna think about cleaning ceiling fans ughhhh).
This meal is EASY. The instructions in the recipe look kind of long winded, but trust me. It's sooooo easy.
And cheap!! That way you have more dollars for online shopping.
While you caramelize onions, you roast some kale and make it all crunch-like in the oven. Meanwhile, the pasta cooks and then you throw it all together with a smidge of the pasta water and some Parmesan cheese.
Easy!
If you are looking for more 30 minute pasta recipes --
Penne with Grilled Chicken and Brussels Sprouts is a quick, delicious, family-friendly recipe that rings in at less than 500 calories per serving. Easy, healthy, SO GOOD.
Eat Your Greens Linguine is my fave way to eat 5 kinds of green veggies in one sitting. Asparagus, spinach, zucchini, peas, parsley, and anything else you can cram in there when you need your vitamins.
Pappardelle with Caramelized Onions and Crispy Kale
Pappardelle with Caramelized Onions and Crispy Kale is an easy 30 minute meal that's slightly sweet with a hint of spice. If you need a delicious meal on the cheap and fast, this pasta dish is just the thing.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 8 ounces fresh kale, thick stems removed and cut into 2-3 " pieces
- 4 ounces sliced mushrooms (optional)
- 1 8 ounce package pappardelle
Instructions
- Step 1
Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, sprinkle with the kosher salt and thyme, reduce the heat to medium, and cook for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to caramelize. Reduce the heat if they darken too quickly.
- Step 2
While the onions are cooking, pre-heat the oven to 350. Rub the kale with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and spread it evenly across a baking sheet.
- Step 3
Roast the kale for about 10 minutes, gently stirring/tossing the kale on the baking sheet once during cooking. When the kale is crisp remove it from the oven and set it aside.
- Step 4
If you are using mushrooms, add them to the pan with the onions now.
- Step 5
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the pappardelle according to package directions. (pappardelle cooks quickly! only about 3 mins) Reserve 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
- Step 6
Place the drained pasta in a serving dish, tossing with a little bit of the cooking water as needed (so the noodles don't stick together). Top with the onions & mushrooms and the crispy kale. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve immediately.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 583Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 100mgSodium: 1103mgCarbohydrates: 80gFiber: 5gSugar: 6gProtein: 18g
Your onions look just ridiculously amazing!! I can never caramelize onions like that haha Makes me want to make some french onion soup!!! Mmm!!! BTW when you said yule log video I literally pictured one of those yule log cakes hahahahahaha duh Michelle!!! lol I think it's because we made one of those last week haha Anyhow I crave onions...I must go haha
Ok so just so you know...this is how far behind I am lol Holy sh*t Batman!!! I feel like I've missed so much!!! Somedays I wish I could just call you and girl talk it hahahaha Anyhow, I'm not going to start reading this tonight because then I'll want to read them all and I have to catch some ZZZzzz's so I won't be tired driving tomorrow to get my brother....BUT. It's on my list of things to do this week on my vacation!!! Hope you're doing well, Merry Christmas!!!!
You can call. We can girl talk it. We'll work it out. You've had a lot on your plate!!! Catch up when you can--- I missed you! Merry Christmas Michelle!!
Right? Overwhelmed is the only word that can best describe my life and how I'm feeling. I'm ready to get past everything and start the new year off on the right foot. Nothing I can do but move ahead I guess...oy! Anyhow, I'm down for the girl talk haha I miss you too!! Merry Christmas!!! Hope you and your boys have an extra special holiday!!!!
Pappardelle is so phenomenal. Love it, even though I try not to eat too much pasta. Somehow I can't help myself when it comes to pappardelle.
Fabulous recipe Heather.
Pappardelle is crazy good. It really doesn't require much dressing up at all!
Love super easy and super quick, especially when it contains onions and pasta! Pasta is my go to "I can't be bothered" food - pasta with mushrooms, veggies, bacon, spinach...anything but pasta is my fail safe when I'm tired and just want food done!
Oh! Me, too! Whenever I don't know what to feed my family or I forgot to thaw something I just mix a bunch of stuff up into pasta. I did a bacon brussels sprout bake with mezza rigatoni-- my kids thought they were eating broccoli. Pasta is WOOONNNDERFUL.
I simply love this dish my friend your photos and the recipe are ridiculously fantastic 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thanks so much, Uru!!
I can't wait to make crispy kale! I love making Mujadara
Cook some rice & lentils together (a cup of each if you're inclined); and during that cooking, caramelize a couple of onions (half moon slices) with olive oil, salt, pepper, cinnamon & cumin until it's nice and smoky tasting. Mix with the cooked lentil/rice mixture and re-season. My friend from the Gaza Strip used to make this for us at work - amazing....
yuuuum! That sounds great! P.S. I really like it when you leave me little recipes in my comments box. It is a super happy surprise!! I could basically eat caramelized onions on everything. No joke.
me too - I love roasted butternut squash and onions (made with Indian spices) ... and then I decided, I could just eat curried roasted red onions.
Thank you - I'm glad you like them - I love to exchange ideas...I should probably come up with amounts at some point in my life...or not 🙂 ha ha... I was on a recipe blog and the guy said "I don't really use measurements, just trust your instincts" and I liked that... unless it's a yeast product - then I must have amounts. or I like to see what other people use for amounts to give me an idea of 'how much' I should use.
I think that for me, with cooking, the hardest part of writing a recipe is remembering to notate an amount. Because it might be instinctive for me, or you, or that food blog guy, but it's not for lots of people and they don't feel comfortable guessing. I have to keep my notebook next to the stove and write down what I do because if I don't then communicating it is a lost cause!
Totally - which is probably why I don't write a recipe blog 🙂 but once in a while will share a recipe that has a special meaing to me.
I always laugh when I see instructions on bagged lettuce...
Some things - like marinara sauce allow for variation of amounts - so that's when I don't feel so obligated to give exact measurements - I just throw it in~
I totally love this and am adding it to our menu this week. Will post a link back to your page. This looks AMAZING!!!
Thanks, Deanna! It was fast, filling, and really easy. Yum.