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Crispy Brown Butter Sage Pasta Recipe with Prosciutto and Parmesan

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A quick and easy pasta dish featuring nutty brown butter, crispy sage, salty prosciutto, and freshly grated parmesan for a comforting and flavorful meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces dried pasta (fettuccine, pappardelle, or tagliatelle)
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (use European-style for extra flavor)
  • 15–20 fresh sage leaves, whole
  • 4 ounces prosciutto, thinly sliced and roughly chopped
  • ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • Salt to taste (sea salt or kosher salt recommended)
  • Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
  • Optional: squeeze of fresh lemon juice or pinch of red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 ounces of pasta and cook until just al dente, about 8-10 minutes depending on pasta type. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining. Drain pasta and set aside.
  2. While pasta cooks, melt 6 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium heat. After 4-5 minutes, butter will foam and turn golden brown with a nutty aroma. Add sage leaves.
  3. Let sage leaves sizzle and crisp for about 2 minutes, flipping occasionally. Add chopped prosciutto and cook for 2-3 minutes until crisp but not burnt. Remove sage and prosciutto with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
  4. Add drained pasta back to the skillet with browned butter. Toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen sauce as needed.
  5. Remove skillet from heat and stir in ½ cup grated parmesan cheese. Season with salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Add optional lemon juice or red pepper flakes if desired.
  6. Plate pasta and sprinkle crispy sage leaves and prosciutto bits on top. Add extra parmesan if desired.

Notes

Watch the butter carefully to avoid burning; brown butter can go from perfect to burnt quickly. Use reserved pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. For vegetarian version, omit prosciutto and add toasted walnuts or crispy mushrooms. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta and adjust cooking time accordingly. Reheat leftovers gently in a skillet with a splash of water to maintain texture.

Nutrition

Keywords: brown butter pasta, sage pasta, prosciutto pasta, parmesan pasta, crispy sage, easy pasta recipe, quick dinner, Italian pasta

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