Caramelized Onion Apple Pasta with Sage (vegan + gluten-free)

Ingredients in Caramelized Onion Apple Pasta

Let's make a shopping list!

• Apples - I used Sugar Bee apples from Sprouts in this recipe and they were truly out of this world. Any variety that's more sweet than tart would work well here, though!
• Garlic - I used a large head of garlic and roasted it! If you love garlic, roasting it before adding it into recipes will absolutely blow your mind.
• Caramelized Onions  - This takes quite a bit of time, so if you're making this recipe on a busy weeknight, I recommend making the roasted garlic and caramelized onions ahead of time! They'll both store just fine until you're ready to start cooking. Caramelized onions can even be frozen and thaw out perfectly in the pan for a dish like this.
• Pasta - Use gluten-free pasta if desired! Make sure to salt your pasta water well, and then reserve ¾ cup of the starchy pasta water for use in the sauce.
• Extra virgin olive oil - I don't skimp when it comes to a pasta night. You'll taste a difference when it comes to the quality of your olive oil, so grab the highest-quality kind you can!
• Fresh sage - Italian flat leaf parsley leaves would also be delicious and add that fresh, herbed flavor that makes Italian dishes so flavorful!
• Baby spinach - Spinach cooks down quite a bit, but packs a big nutritional punch that I love adding it into a weeknight meal.

Pecan Pasta Topping

I made a crumbly pecan topping for this pasta, which really makes it feel like a fall treat! I started by toasting the pecans for a couple minutes, then pulsing them in the food processor with olive oil and a bit of nutritional yeast. This is another sweet-and-savory, nutty combination that perfectly pairs with the pasta and adds a satisfying crunch on top!

Pecans add a nice plant-based protein boost along with healthy fats, so they’re great for making vegan meals well-rounded. They’re also a great source of fiber, so they’re good for digestion, as well as copper and zinc. Pecans have thiamine (or vitamin B1) that helps your body convert carbohydrates into energy. I’ll always say YES to that!

Pasta with Caramelized Onion and Roasted Garlic

I absolutely love the combination of roasted garlic and caramelized onions. They add the most delicious depth of flavor to recipes and it's absolutely worth the time it takes! Check out my posts on How to Caramelize Onions and How to Roast Garlic, but make sure to plan for about an hour. Luckily, these can both be done in advance! Caramelize your onions and roast garlic whenever you have an hour in the kitchen, and then they're ready to go when you make dinner...and I totally suggest caramelizing a couple extra onions and making my Vegan French Onion Dip!

All About Apples

The classic advice "an apple a day" still holds true! Apples are full of health benefits and powerful disease fighting nutrients in addition to tasting amazing. They keep you hydrated because of their high water content, they’re low in calories, fat-free, sodium-free, cholesterol-free, and full of fiber and immune-boosting vitamin C. For more information check out this article that I wrote about the health benefits of apples in The Washington Post a couple years ago with even more apple information.

The Best Gluten-Free Pasta

I've been gluten-free for years, and since I'm also a total pasta lover, I just might have tried every variety of gluten-free pasta out there! The brands I come back to again and again are Jovial and Andean Dream. They cook and taste like traditional pasta but with a super allergen-friendly ingredient list. Check out my full post of Gluten-Free Recommendations and Resources for more on my wheat-free favorites!