Blackberry Balsamic Pasta
Time: 45 minutes
Serves: 2-3
Blackberries, caramelized onions, and a creamy balsamic glaze sauce make for an unexpected flavor combination that feels fancy but is so easy to put together! It’s sweet, creamy, and a little earthy from toasted walnuts. This is one of those dinners perfect to have up your sleeve when you want to impress guests. Or when you want to treat yourself!
Prep Time:
10 minutes
Cook Time:
35 minutes
Serves:
2-3
Perfect for:
Family Style
Potluck Standouts
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 large red onion
- 2 ¼ teaspoons salt, divided
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 quarts water
- 8 ounces purchased fettuccini
- 1 package (6 ounces) Driscoll’s Blackberries
- 2 tablespoons balsamic glaze
- 4 ounces goat cheese
Directions
- CHOP 1/2 cup walnuts roughly.
- PLACE walnuts into a skillet.
- COOK over medium-low heat about 5 minutes and STIR frequently until walnuts are toasted and fragrant.
- SET ASIDE toasted walnuts.
- PLACE 2 tablespoons olive oil into skillet.
- ADD 1 tablespoon unsalted butter.
- SLICE 1 large red onion into thin slices.
- ADD onion slices to skillet.
- ADD 1/4 teaspoon salt.
- ADD 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
- COOK 20 – 25 minutes on low heat and STIR occasionally until onions are well caramelized.
- REMOVE skillet from heat and SET ASIDE.
- POUR about 2 quarts of water into a large pot.
- ADD about 2 teaspoons salt.
- BRING water to boil over high heat.
- ADD 8 ounces purchased fettuccini and COOK according to package instructions until al dente.
- RESERVE 1/2 cup pasta water.
- DRAIN fettuccini and SET ASIDE.
- RETURN skillet to medium heat.
- ADD 2 – 3 tablespoons reserved pasta water.
- USE a wooden spoon or spatula to SCRAPE browned bits off bottom of skillet.
- SIMMER and STIR until liquid is reduced by half.
- RESERVE one-quarter of 1 package (6 ounces) blackberries.
- ADD remaining blackberries to skillet.
- COOK over medium heat 2 – 3 minutes and MASH blackberries until pureed.
- ADD 2 tablespoons balsamic glaze.
- CRUMBLE 4 ounces goat cheese.
- RESERVE 1 ounce crumbled goat cheese and ADD remaining 3 ounces to skillet.
- STIR until creamy.
- ADD additional pasta water as needed.
- ADD drained fettuccini and TOSS gently.
- TASTE pasta and ADD salt and pepper as needed.
- RESERVE one-quarter of chopped walnuts and ADD remaining walnuts to skillet.
- STIR gently until combined.
- DIVIDE pasta between 2 – 3 pasta bowls.
- GARNISH with reserved blackberries.
- GARNISH with reserved toasted walnuts.
- GARNISH with reserved crumbled goat cheese.
- SERVE immediately.
