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Browned Butter and Mizithra Pasta

Are you looking for the perfect side dish? A side dish that pairs with just about anything? You need to try my Browned Butter and Mizithra Pasta tonight.

Brown Butter Mizithra Pasta

Brown Butter Mizithra Pasta

Brown Butter Mizithra Pasta is a delectable Italian-inspired dish that boasts simplicity and depth of flavor. If you’re in search of a quick and savory meal that’ll delight your taste buds without any fuss, look no further. This recipe takes basic ingredients—butter, cheese, and pasta—and transforms them into something truly extraordinary. The magic happens when butter is gently browned to create a rich, nutty aroma, which perfectly complements the salty, tangy Mizithra cheese. Together, they form a harmonious combination that will leave you craving more.

The beauty of this dish lies not only in its incredible taste but also in its ease of preparation. With just a handful of ingredients and minimal cooking time, Brown Butter Mizithra Pasta is a weeknight dinner hero. It’s a fantastic choice for busy individuals and families who desire a homemade meal that’s both satisfying and comforting. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or a novice in the kitchen, this recipe offers a stress-free culinary experience.

What is Mizithra Cheese?

Have you ever tried Mizithra cheese? It isn’t a very common cheese, but it sure has a creamy rich flavor and goes perfectly with the flavor of browned butter. Mizithra cheese is a little bit salty and doesn’t melt fully. It is perfect in this dish because you get a concentrated burst of flavor when biting into it.

When you go to the store for this cheese, you will find it in the deli amongst all the specialty cheeses. It is a bit pricey, but that’s okay because you won’t need very much. Mizithra cheese freezes well. Sometimes I buy too much and then I freeze it. It’s not a cheese that I use in a ton of dishes so I usually just save it for the next time I make this pasta.

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Mizithra cheese is a cheese made from goat’s milk, typically.

You need more PASTA in your life.

Traeger White Wine Chicken with Mushrooms

How to properly brown butter

Browning butter has a fancy reputation but is actually really easy.

  1. Place your butter in a pan, and turn the heat to medium-low
  2. Keep stirring until fully melted
  3. Pay attention now 😉
  4. The butter will start to foam. That’s okay! Under it is starting to brown. Don’t mess with it too much!
  5. The color of the butter will start to brown
  6. Tilt the pan around to keep an eye on the color
  7. Keep on heat until the butter is a light to medium brown
Browned Butter

There is a fine line between brown and TOO brown, so it is imperative that you keep watching. I have had to start over more than once while making this. There’s also this thing where if it isn’t brown ENOUGH it just feels a little greasy and doesn’t add that nutty flavor that you want.

Browned Butter
Look for the swirls of brown to see where your butter is at!

What kind of pasta is best to use for this dish?

I like to use angel hair pasta or a thin spaghetti for my browned butter mizithra pasta, but if you don’t have one of those, you can use anything that you like, just get the highest quality pasta that you can.

Pasta is one of those things that is quite inexpensive even when buying the higher quality versions, but it really makes a difference. Some people are not convinced there is a difference, but some people are wrong.

I’m only partly kidding. Pasta is serious business.

Make our Homemade Bolognese sometime!

Browned Butter and Mizithra Pasta

What is the best thing to serve with Brown Butter Mizithra Pasta?

One of my absolute favorite dishes is my Chicken Marsala Recipe. This dish goes perfectly with this pasta. I love to make it with a little extra gravy to drizzle over the pasta. Delicious. There’s also my Traeger take on it with my White Wine Chicken and Mushrooms too.

Looking to have seafood tonight? My Traeger Grilled Shrimp Kabobs are perfect with this pasta, as is the Traeger Grilled Salmon we just posted a few weeks ago.

Want to keep it simple? Try my Traeger Grilled Chicken recipe or my very easy and full-of-flavor Traeger Grilled Chicken Kabobs.

Serve this Browned Butter and Mizithra Pasta with your choice of meat, a veggie, and a crisp green salad and dinner is extra special tonight. And don’t forget a big loaf of your favorite French bread.

Brown Butter Mizithra Pasta
Yield: 6 servings

Browned Butter and Mizithra Pasta

Browned Butter and Mizithra Pasta

This delicious and simple pasta side features the nutty rich flavor of browned butter coupled with the unique flavor of mizithra cheese.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 stick salted butter
  • 1 pound thin spaghetti
  • 1 cup shredded mizithra cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • fresh herbs (optional)

Instructions

  1. Place the butter in a medium saute pan over medium-low heat. Let melt, foam, and brown, stirring occasionally.
  2. Put a well-salted pot of water on to boil. Boil noodles according to package directions, and drain well when done.
  3. Toss fully drained pasta with the browned butter and shredded mizithra cheese. Salt to taste. Mix in fresh herbs that compliment your main dish last, if you are going that route.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 254Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 324mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 7g

Nutrition data provided here is only an estimate. If you are tracking these things for medical purposes please consult an outside, trusted source. Thanks!

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Nicole Johnson

Nicole Johnson, a self-taught expert in grilling and outdoor cooking, launched Or Whatever You Do in 2010. Her blog, renowned for its comprehensive and creative outdoor cooking recipes, has garnered a vast audience of millions. Nicole's hands-on experience and passion for grilling shine through her work. Her husband, Jeremiah Johnson, also plays a pivotal role in recipe development, adding his culinary flair to the mix. Together, they form a dynamic duo, offering a rich and varied outdoor cooking experience to their followers.

Wendi

Wednesday 22nd of April 2020

Does the butter evaporate?

K.S.

Saturday 18th of April 2020

my family and i eat spaghetti with olive oil, garlic and a splash of lime juice with a handful of shredded myzithra on top as a meal... its very filling i cant honestly imagine it as a side along with meat veg and a salad

Lisa Henderson

Sunday 26th of May 2019

Why don't you mention that mizithra is a Greek cheese?

Patricia W.

Tuesday 5th of November 2019

@Lisa Henderson, Why is it necessary?

Nicole Johnson

Monday 27th of May 2019

Uhhh....I’m not sure! I must have just missed that detail. Thanks for stopping by to point that out!

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