Ingredients
Pasta and Sauce
- 8 ounces dried pasta noodles such as spaghetti (linguini or soba noodles)
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 shallot, minced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 ½ tablespoons miso paste (white or red)
- 1 ¼ cup reserved pasta cooking water, divided
- 1-2 ounces (¼ to ½ cup) Parmesan cheese, finely grated
- Sea salt and ground black pepper to taste
Optional Garnishes
- Furikake
- Thinly sliced scallions
- Sesame seeds
- Sliced toasted nori
- Red pepper flakes
- Sautéed shiitake mushrooms
- Stir-fried bok choy
Instructions
- Boil pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 ¼ cups of the pasta cooking water to use in the sauce. Then drain the pasta completely.
- Sauté aromatics: In the same pot, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add the minced shallots and garlic, sautéing and stirring frequently for about 2-3 minutes until the shallots are softened and fragrant.
- Add miso paste: Add the miso paste to the buttered shallots and garlic, then pour in about 1 cup of the reserved hot pasta water. Whisk constantly to dissolve the miso evenly into the sauce, creating a smooth base.
- Incorporate Parmesan cheese: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese vigorously, making sure it melts completely and forms a creamy sauce. Keep the sauce warm but avoid boiling by lowering the heat if necessary.
- Season and combine: Season the sauce with sea salt and ground black pepper to taste. Add the drained pasta back into the pot and toss thoroughly to coat every strand with the rich miso-Parmesan sauce.
- Serve with garnishes: Plate the pasta and top with your choice of garnishes such as furikake, scallions, sesame seeds, sliced toasted nori, red pepper flakes, or sautéed mushrooms and bok choy for extra flavor and texture.
Notes
- Reserve the pasta water carefully as it’s key to achieving the perfect sauce consistency.
- Use white miso for a milder flavor or red miso for a stronger, more intense taste.
- Adjust the amount of Parmesan cheese depending on your preferred cheesiness.
- Add sautéed vegetables like shiitake mushrooms and bok choy to bulk up the dish and add nutrition.
- This recipe is naturally vegetarian but can be made vegan by substituting butter and Parmesan with plant-based alternatives.
- Serve immediately for best texture and flavor as the sauce thickens upon standing.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Japanese Fusion
- Diet: Vegetarian
