Description
This Japanese Inspired Creamy Miso Ditalini is a quick and comforting pasta dish that combines creamy miso-infused sauce with tender ditalini pasta. Featuring aromatic garlic and ginger, white miso paste, and a touch of toasted sesame oil, this recipe delivers a rich umami flavor perfect for a weeknight meal in just 25 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 10.5 oz ditalini pasta
- Salt, for pasta water
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon finely grated ginger
- 2 tablespoons white miso paste
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 7 fl oz heavy cream
- ¼ cup reserved pasta water
Garnish and Finishing
- 3 scallions, thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Optional: chili flakes, for heat
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ditalini according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ¼ cup of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
- Sauté aromatics: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter. Add minced garlic and finely grated ginger, sautéing for about 1 minute until fragrant and aromatic.
- Incorporate miso and soy: Stir in the white miso paste and soy sauce into the skillet, mixing thoroughly to combine with the aromatics.
- Add cream and thicken: Pour in heavy cream while stirring continuously. Allow the sauce to gently simmer and thicken slightly, about 2 to 3 minutes, until smooth and creamy.
- Adjust sauce consistency: Gradually add the reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen the sauce to your desired consistency, stirring as you go.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked ditalini pasta to the skillet and toss gently to coat all the pasta evenly with the creamy miso sauce.
- Finish with sesame oil: Remove the skillet from heat. Drizzle the toasted sesame oil over the pasta and toss once more to distribute the rich, nutty flavor evenly.
- Garnish and serve: Serve the pasta immediately, garnished with thinly sliced scallions, toasted sesame seeds, freshly ground black pepper, and optional chili flakes for some heat.
Notes
- Reserve some pasta water to adjust sauce consistency without thinning the flavor.
- Use white miso paste for a milder, sweeter flavor compared to other miso varieties.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute heavy cream with coconut cream and butter with a neutral oil.
- You can add chili flakes gradually to customize the heat level.
- Serve promptly as the sauce thickens upon standing.
