Indulge in Italian Elegance with Creamy Saffron Spaghetti
Picture being able to savor the elegance and refined taste of Italian cuisine with a simple yet astonishing dish. Today, I’ll walk you through the preparation of a dish that embodies tradition and innovation: spaghetti enveloped in a creamy saffron emulsion.
A Personal Memory: I still remember when my grandmother, with precise and expert movements, sliced the onion for this dish. Her carefulness in not overpowering the delicate aroma of saffron taught me how important it is to balance flavors in cooking. Every time I recreate this recipe, it’s like bringing those precious moments spent with her back to life.
With less than half an hour to spare, you can create a first course that will amaze your guests or elevate your everyday dinner. And if you want to add a personal touch, follow the suggested “twist” at the end of the recipe to add crispiness and depth to your culinary masterpiece!
Recipe Notes
- EASE: Quick and easy to make.
- PROS: Delicately flavorful and creamy.
- CONS: Requires attention when cooking the onion.
- PREPARATION: Fast, ready in just 10 minutes.
- NUTRITIONAL NOTES: Approximately 320 calories per serving.
Ingredients Notes for the Recipe
- Spaghetti Pasta: Go for high-quality pasta to ensure an excellent dish.
- Onion: The onion adds sweetness and depth to the sauce.
- Saffron: The key ingredient that gives the recipe its characteristic color and flavor.
- Butter: Use top-notch butter for a creamy and indulgent result.
Nutritional Aspects
Let’s explore the nutritional benefits of Saffron Spaghetti:
- Moderate calorie content, approximately 320 Kcal per serving.
- Saffron, a spice with antioxidant properties and health benefits.
- Al dente pasta to preserve flavor and nutritional consistency.
- Controlled amount of butter for a balanced fat content.
- Onion, a source of essential vitamins and minerals.
Recipe for Saffron Spaghetti
Instructions
- Finely slice the onion.
- Melt a knob of butter in a pan and add the sliced onion. Let it brown slowly.
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti.
- Gently incorporate the saffron sachet into the melted butter with the onion.
- Add a spoonful of pasta cooking water to the butter and saffron mixture.
- Drain the spaghetti, reserving some cooking water, then transfer them to the pan with the saffron sauce.
- Toss the spaghetti in the sauce over low heat, adding cooking water if necessary.
- Serve the spaghetti hot, well-seasoned with the saffron sauce.
Notes
Variations of Saffron Spaghetti Recipe
Add a personal touch to the recipe with these deliciously creative variations:
- Use linguine or fettuccine instead of spaghetti for a twist on the pasta shape.
- Add sautéed prawns to enrich the dish with an irresistible seafood flavor.
- Swap the butter for extra virgin olive oil for a lighter, fruity taste version.
- Sprinkle the spaghetti with freshly chopped parsley before serving for a touch of freshness and color.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Recipe
If you have any doubts about how to best prepare saffron spaghetti, you’ll find the answers to the most common questions here!
How can I prevent the butter from burning when preparing the onion?
It’s important to keep the heat low and constantly monitor the onion to avoid the butter from burning. This way, you’ll ensure a delicate flavor in the dish.
How can I make the sauce creamier without adding too much butter?
To make the sauce creamier, you can add a bit of pasta cooking water to the butter and saffron mixture. This will create an emulsion that will evenly coat the spaghetti.