My very first date with my soon-to-be hubby was at the Old Spaghetti Factory in Salt Lake City. It was there that I was introduced to the famous dish eaten by Homer while writing his epics ... you know, the Iliad and the Odyssey? Oh, you want the name of the dish?
It's Spaghetti with Browned Butter and Mizithra Cheese.
Myzithra (also written as "mizithra") is a Greek cheese that can be fresh (soft, like a cottage cheese) or hard, similar in texture to a Parmesan cheese. I found a small (quarter sized ball) of this cheese at Harmon's for $4. You can find it at a better price at WINCO. You may be able to find it at similar specialty shops and I've even heard that the Old Spaghetti Factory will sell you some of this cheese. Doesn't hurt to ask!
It is a dish that will please even the youngest and pickiest eaters. You can also change it up by adding and of the following: sautéed mushrooms, bacon, lemon juice, spinach or pine nuts.
What makes this dish extra special is browned butter. I have seen numerous recipes calling for browned butter, but I have never made it. The process is similar to making clarified butter. You cook it further, until you reach a rich, brown stage that has a nutty, caramel taste.
Browning butter is not difficult. You do need to stay, watch and stir the pot.
I love my Pampered Chef sauce whisk! You can also find a similar one here on Amazon. The flat whisk scraps the bottom of the pot perfectly and the round spring cleans the edges.
Use a 3 quart stainless steel saucepan instead of a non-stick pan. You will be able to see the subtle color changes more easily. Put the pan on medium heat and bring the butter to a slow boil (about 5 minutes.)
Once the butter begins to boil, stir constantly to prevent residue from sticking to the bottom of the pan AND to keep the butter from foaming over the sides.
Once the butter stops foaming and rising (this is the clarified stage), cook till amber brown nut in color (1-2 minutes). It will soon have this fantastic, caramel aroma... Be careful to not let it burn!
Remove the pan from the burner and let it cool for about 15 minutes. The residue will settle to the bottom of the pan. Pour the butter through a fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth, or coffee filter. This process reduces the amount of salt, allowing you to add the salty Myzithra cheese to your dish.
The browned butter can be stored in the fridge and reheated as necessary. I like to break off a piece and toss it into the pasta and let it melt.
Boil the pasta of your choice. Drain and divide onto serving plates.
Shred your cheese with a classic microplaner grater. You will get a LOT of cheese!
Sprinkle 1/4 c. of Myzithra cheese over each serving. Top with up to 1/4 c. of hot browned butter. Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley.
Enjoy!
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Browned Butter Myzithra Spaghetti - Old Spaghetti Factory Copycat
by Frieda Franchina, adapted from CDKitchen.com September-21-2011
Browned butter gives this popular pasta dish a buttery caramel flavor. Myzithra cheese is a traditional Greek whey cheese that has a sweet taste with a slight chew. Shred this cheese and keep it in your freezer for a fast, restaurant quality meal at home.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
- 1 cup Myzithra cheese, grated
- 2 Tablespoons parsley, chopped
- salt to taste
- 1 pound (16 ounces) spaghetti
- Optional:
- sautéed mushrooms
- chopped bacon
- pine nuts
- minced garlic
- black pepper
Instructions
1. Fill a large, 6 quart saucepan with 4 quarts of water and set it on medium-high until it begins to boil.2. Put the pasta into the boiling water and bring it back to a boil, stirring the pasta. Reduce the temp if it is boiling too rapidly.3. Begin timing your pasta. Cook it according to package directions. I like to use 12 minutes.4. Test your pasta for al dente (firmness) as it nears the end of the cook time. Once you reach your desired texture, pour the pasta & water through a strainer or colander. Return the pasta to the pot and add a touch of butter or oil and stir, to keep pasta from sticking. Cover.Browned Butter Sauce1. Cut butter into small pieces and place in a 2 quart saucepan, set over medium heat. Bring to a slow boil (about 5 minutes).2. Once at a boil, stir constantly. Butter will start to foam and rise, and stirring will help keep the foam down. Continue stirring and cooking, about 5 minutes.3. Once the butter stops foaming, cook until amber brown (about 2 minutes). It will smell like caramel. Be careful not to let it burn.4. Remove the saucepan from the burner. Let the milk solids settle to the bottom of the pan for a few minutes.OPTIONAL: Pour the browned butter through a coffee filter lined strainer, set over a bowl. 5. Toss desired amount of browned butter into the hot pasta. Top each serving with desired amount of shredded Myzithra cheese and parsley. Serve.Store any remaining butter in the fridge. You can break off a piece of the butter and stir it into your next pot of spaghetti until melted.
Details
Prep time: Cook time: Total time: Yield: 6 servings
