Spaghetti alla cipolla di Tropea

Spaghetti with Tropea onion is a simple yet flavorful dish that showcases the sweet and unique taste of this particular variety of red onion native to Calabria.

Ingredients

• 320 g of spaghetti
• 3 Tropea onions
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 5 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste
• Red chili pepper (optional)
• Fresh parsley (for garnish, optional)
• Grated Parmesan cheese or Pecorino (optional)

Preparation

1. Clean the Tropea onions by removing the outer skin and slicing them thinly.
2. In a large pan, heat the extra virgin olive oil and add the peeled garlic cloves. Let them flavor for a couple of minutes, then remove them.
3. Add the onion slices to the pan and sauté over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the onions become translucent and slightly caramelized. If desired, you can add some red chili pepper to give a spicy touch.
4. Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti until ‘al dente’.
5. Drain the spaghetti and set aside some of the cooking water.
6. Add the spaghetti to the pan with the onions, mix well and if the pasta seems too dry, add some of the cooking water to make it creamier.
7. Adjust with salt and black pepper, stirring for another minute or two so the spaghetti absorbs the flavors of the onions.
8. Serve the spaghetti, garnishing with chopped fresh parsley and, if desired, sprinkle with grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese before serving.

Curiosity

Tropea onions are known for their sweetness and digestibility, in addition to their health benefits. The red onion of Tropea has obtained the PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) recognition, thus ensuring that the denomination is reserved exclusively for onions produced in the traditional areas of Calabria.