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Budget-Friendly Fall Pasta with Brown Butter and Sage

budget-friendly fall pasta with brown butter and sage - featured image
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A quick and easy pasta dish with nutty brown butter and crispy sage, perfect for busy weeknights. Made with simple, budget-friendly ingredients, it tastes surprisingly luxurious.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (450g) dried pasta (rigatoni, fusilli, or penne)
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick or 113g) unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup (about 12g) fresh sage leaves
  • 1/2 cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more for pasta water
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Use about 1 tablespoon of salt per 4 quarts of water.
  2. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Stir occasionally.
  3. While the pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Swirl the pan occasionally.
  4. Add the fresh sage leaves to the butter. Let them sizzle and crisp up for about 1-2 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the sage leaves and set them aside on a paper towel.
  5. Continue cooking the butter, swirling the pan frequently, until it turns a warm golden brown and small brown specks appear at the bottom of the pan, about 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat immediately.
  6. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
  7. Drain the pasta and add it directly to the skillet with the brown butter. Toss to coat evenly.
  8. Add the grated Parmesan cheese and 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water. Toss vigorously until the cheese melts and forms a silky sauce. Add more pasta water if needed.
  9. Season with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Taste and adjust.
  10. Squeeze a little lemon juice over the top if desired.
  11. Serve immediately, topped with the crispy sage leaves and extra Parmesan.

Notes

Don’t walk away from the butter while browning; it can burn quickly. Use a light-colored pan to see the color change. Reserve more pasta water than you think you’ll need. The pasta is best served immediately.

Nutrition

Keywords: brown butter pasta, sage pasta, budget-friendly pasta, fall pasta, quick pasta, easy pasta recipe

Find it online: https://novanosh.com/budget-friendly-fall-pasta-with-brown-butter-and-sage/