Nutty & Creamy Perilla Seed Pasta
A Tablespoon of Magic for Creamier Pasta! #PerillaCreamPasta Recipe
I recently visited a fantastic pasta restaurant and tried perilla seed pasta for the first time. It was so novel and incredibly delicious! Let’s make a rich yet not overly heavy perilla cream pasta that’s both nutty and delightful.
Ingredients
- Spaghetti pasta 100g
- Store-bought cream spaghetti sauce 1 pack
- Roasted perilla seed powder 2 Tbsp
- Pork belly 2 strips (approx. 150-200g)
- Onion 1/2 medium
- Garlic 7 cloves
- Unsalted butter 1 Tbsp
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the vegetables that will add depth of flavor to our pasta. Thinly slice half an onion and thinly slice or mince 7 cloves of garlic. Preparing them this way will allow the garlic flavor to infuse more deeply.
Step 2
Bring a generous pot of water to a boil, add 1 Tbsp of salt, and then add 100g of spaghetti pasta. Cook for about 8 minutes, which is approximately 1 minute less than the time indicated on the pasta package, to achieve a perfect al dente texture.
Step 3
After 8 minutes, drain the cooked pasta in a colander. To prevent the noodles from sticking together, drizzle with 1 Tbsp of olive oil and toss well. This step will help keep the pasta strands separate and al dente.
Step 4
Now, let’s get started on cooking the pasta. Melt 1 Tbsp of unsalted butter in a pan over medium-low heat. Add the thinly sliced onions and sauté slowly. Cook until the onions become translucent, release a sweet aroma, and turn a subtle brown color. This caramelization process will significantly enhance the pasta’s umami flavor.
Step 5
While the onions are sautéing, let’s prepare the pork belly topping to accompany the pasta. Cut the pork belly into bite-sized pieces and pan-fry them separately until crispy. This will cut through the richness and add a delightful savory crunch. (Alternatively, you can boil the pork belly in the pasta water for a quick cook).
Step 6
Once the onions are nicely caramelized, add the sliced garlic to the pan. You can add a little extra olive oil here if desired, but be careful not to burn the garlic. Sauté over medium-low heat until the garlic is golden brown and fragrant. The aroma will be incredible!
Step 7
When the garlic is fragrant and cooked, add the pre-cooked spaghetti noodles to the pan. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and black pepper. Gently toss to coat the pasta evenly with the butter and vegetable flavors. It’s important to stir and loosen the noodles as you cook to prevent them from clumping.
Step 8
Once the noodles are well combined with the vegetables, add the entire pack of store-bought cream spaghetti sauce. Stir gently to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, add a small amount of the pasta cooking water to adjust the consistency.
Step 9
Transfer the beautifully cooked pasta to a serving plate. Top generously with the crispy pork belly and finish with the star ingredient – a generous sprinkle of roasted perilla seed powder (2 Tbsp). Your chef-worthy perilla cream pasta is now ready to enjoy! Bon appétit!
