Everyone has their favorite dish and this is mine.
I love the combination of noodles, browned-butter and Mizithra cheese.
With this recipe you can use homemade noodles or packaged noodles. Wheat noodles or gluten free noodles. Long noodles or short noodles.
Browned-butter and Mizithra cheese work with most noodle types. In fact, I have yet to meet a noodle I don't like drenched in browned-butter. Okay maybe drenched is a bit too much; but not really.
Making browned-butter is easy. Take a cube of butter (salted or unsalted) and melt in a small sauce pan. Keep your heat around medium. You can go up to medium high if you are going to watch the butter. Burned-butter is not our goal and if you don't watch it closely this is what you will have. The melting and browning process takes about 7 minutes. Every stove will be a bit different so the cooking time may vary.
If you make it often, you will learn the stages: melted, bubbly/ foamy, two distinct layers,and finally, browned specks at the bottom of the pan.
Use the browned-butter immediately or store the rest in the refrigerator. It will form into a hard disk. I usually break off with my fork a small amount and melt it in the microwave for individual lunch portions. If you are not going to use it immediately, I would suggest transferring it to a bowl. Even with the heat turned off the butter will continue to brown.
Are you wondering why I shot this with chopsticks when it is clearly not an oriental dish? Our family uses chopsticks for most meals. In our drawer we have a spot for the normal utensils: forks, spoons and knives. We also have a spot for chopsticks. I think I might have a slight addiction to buying them too.
We go to HMart once a month and I always come home with a couple new pairs. My latest pair are black and gold. I haven't shown the kids yet because I want to surprise them with a fun meal first.
I wanted the picture to show how we eat our food. I could have used a fork, but why when chopsticks are a bit more fun and more true to how my family eats our dinners.
Serve with your favorite vegetable or side salad.
Another simply gourmet dish that will WOW your friends and family.
Browned Butter Noodles with Mizithra Cheese
1 batch of homemade noodles or prepared noodles/pasta, cooked and drained
1 stick of butter, soft
1 cup of Mizithra cheese, grated
salt, to taste
1. Prepare noodles according to package directions. Set aside. If using homemade noodles then bring water to a rolling boil, add noodles, boil under done, drain and set aside.
2. In a small sauce pan over medium heat melt butter. Butter will start to foam and then begin to form brown specks at the bottom of the pan. Watch closely as not to burn the butter. Stir until the aroma is nutty and the butter is a nice golden brown color. Remove from heat. See comments above.
3. Serve noodles tossed in browned butter or have guest pour butter onto noodles themselves (I have done both). Add cheese--lots of cheese.
4. Serve immediately. Store any leftover butter in the refrigerator for 2 weeks.
Written by Sherron Watson
I don't splurge on The Old Spaghetti Factory often, but if I do, this is always what I order!
ReplyDeleteMy sister n law says the same thing. She loves it. It's nice that I can make it at home. Thanks for the comment Kalyn. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
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