Tuesday, December 1, 2009

So Easy-Good!


SPAGHETTI WITH BROWNED BUTTER & MYZITHRA

Oh. my. gosh.

If you've ever been to the Old Spaghetti Factory you've no doubt ordered this. If not...WHY not?! It's so good.

As a teenager on a date with my future husband to the Spaghetti Factory in Seattle for the first time, I ordered this thinking it would be pasta in a cheese sauce - which sounded great in itself! When the plate was placed in front of me I was less than impressed.

But one bite cured me and quick. Amazing!

It's super easy to make and kids love it. The hardest part is waiting for the butter to brown...


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1 pound thin or regular spaghetti (try it with whole wheat or quinoa pasta!)
1 cup butter
1 cup finely grated myzithra cheese (see below)
Freshly cracked black pepper

Cook spaghetti according to directions on package. While pasta is cooking brown the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Just add it to the pan and let it go, don't stir or anything. It will melt, foam, and right after foaming start to brown. (Takes a few minutes.) You will see the color rising from the bottom. Remove from heat immediately and pour over warm pasta, scraping out and including the browned bits.

Toss with the cheese and black pepper. Serve.

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Myzithra is Greek cheese and comes in three varieties. For this you want the aged, hard one, usually sold in small rounded wedges in bigger grocery stores. It grates into fine, almost powdery shards, but doesn't melt, and will keep it's shape and appearance in this dish.


Photo: Springbank Cheese Co






16 comments:

  1. This was my favorite at old spaghetti factory! My mom always used to make it for us too! So good.

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  2. ciao Linda! questi spaghetti sono eccezionali!!! complimenti!

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  3. This looks really really good. Next time Im in Whole Foods, I'm going to look for that cheese.

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  4. This sounds SO delicious! Why does butter have to be so bad for us?

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  5. I'm not sure what the Spaghetti Factory is, but if it was my grandmother's house, then I know all about this dish. It was my favorite growing up and I haven't had it in a while, but that might change tonight! Especially since I keep Myzithra in the house all the time. :) Thanks!

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  6. I make this at home too - the only difference is I add a bit of garlic to the browned butter. I haven't added the black pepper either.

    Myzithra cheese can be hard to find but I have always been able to get it at Whole Foods.

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  7. Oh goodness gracious, this sounds SO good! Thanks for the recipe Linda! I was feeling desperate about what I should make for lunch.

    And how did you get your blog template to work on here?? I adore the cutest blog on the block. But I think my pc doesn't.

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  8. Oh man thank you so much for this! This is hands down my favorite meal! I will be sharing this on my blog!

    www.theeverythingist.net

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  9. these spaghetti look soooo delicious, i cant wait to try them, yummy! cheers from london

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  10. Wow Linda! This is a far cry from your other food blog. Watch out, carb-o-phobes! Everything looks sinfully delightful!

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  11. YES!! Here I get to indulge myself in the kitchen - then I go THERE for food I can actually get away with eating!

    Luckily I've got a lot of people who will take this off my hands!!

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  12. What a fun blog. I am happy to know about you!Beautiful pictures!

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  13. I have had this before, never knew the type of cheese... Now I am on a mission

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  14. One cup of butter? I'm in! Looks delish.

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  15. Oh my..your blog looks good enough to eat..lolol
    Just added myself to follow!!
    Your Oatmeal Honey bread looks so darn good!
    Certainly going to give that a whirl!!

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  16. I stumbled upon your blog today! I love making this pasta. I had it the first time in Salt Lake City at the Spaghetti Factory.
    I just posted something you may like to check out:
    http://love2cooksweets.blogspot.com/2010/05/peanut-butter-mousse-in-chocolate-cups.html

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