Brussels Sprouts, Dried Cranberries, Caramelized Onion & Sage Penne Recipe
Fall Penne with Brussels Sprouts, Cranberries, and Caramelized Onions is a cozy seasonal pasta recipe made with browned Brussels sprouts, sweet dried cranberries, golden onions, fresh sage, and tender penne. Serve it as a vegetarian Thanksgiving pasta side dish or a simple fall dinner.
Ingredients
- 6 oz penne pasta
- 2 tbsp olive oil divided
- 3 cups Brussels sprouts trimmed and halved
- 2 large yellow onions thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ⅓ cup dried cranberries
- 1 tbsp fresh sage finely chopped
- ¼ tsp salt plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ cup reserved pasta water
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese optional
- 1 tbsp chopped toasted pecans or walnuts optional
- 1 tsp lemon zest optional
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne according to the package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta water.
- While the pasta cooks, heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and salt. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft and golden. If the pan gets too dry, add a small splash of water.
- Stir the garlic, sage, and dried cranberries into the onions. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, just until fragrant. Transfer the onion mixture to a bowl and set aside.
- Add the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil to the same skillet. Place the Brussels sprouts cut-side down and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, or until browned and just tender. Stir occasionally after the cut sides have browned.
- Add the cooked penne and onion mixture back to the skillet with the Brussels sprouts. Toss everything together.
- Add the reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen the pasta and help the flavors come together.
- Season with black pepper and additional salt if needed.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese, toasted nuts, or lemon zest if using. Serve warm.
Nutrition
Calories: 351 kcal | Carbohydrates: 53 g | Protein: 11 g | Fat: 12 g | Saturated Fat: 2 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7 g | Cholesterol: 6 mg | Sodium: 153 mg | Potassium: 478 mg | Fiber: 6 g | Sugar: 12 g | Vitamin A: 556 IU | Vitamin C: 61 mg | Calcium: 122 mg | Iron: 2 mg
Nutrition information has been calculated using an autogenerating online calculation and is intended for informational purposes. For accurate nutritional information, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used.
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