Okay, guys. OMG FOOD has a new meaning: “Oh My Greek Food.” Cool? I’m into it.
Today, my friends, we are having spaghetti with browned butter and mizithra cheese. I tried calling my mom to tell her I was posting this recipe, but she didn’t answer her phone. Typical mom. Ignoring her daughter’s phone call. THANKS A LOT, MOM. NO, REALLY. IT’S FINE. I’M NOT MAD. (Nah, it’s cool.)
Anyway, I’ll tell her the next time I do talk to her and she’s going to get so excited. Because she made this SO MUCH when I was growing up. I loved it then and I love it now. It’s one of those meals you can make without thinking about it much, you know? I mean, it involves three ingredients and the flavor is anything but boring. The brown butter is the secret ingredient and the mizithra cheese packs a unique punch.
I’ve gone over this in my swiss chard and mushroom quinoa post, but if you don’t know what mizithra is (fun fact: sometimes it’s spelled myzithra), it’s a hard, dry cheese, similar to ricotta salata. It doesn’t melt so much, so your best bet is to finely grate it (I especially love my microplane
You’ll notice I said three ingredients up there and salt wasn’t one of them. Mizithra is salty enough on its own, so you may not need to add salt. If you happen to use salted butter, you’re especially good to go. I gotchu.
If you want a baller Greek meal. Have this pasta as a side with some broiled lamb shoulder chops and for your healthy, green side, some maroulosalata? Totally going to push the Greek food on you as much as I possibly can. Because I love you.
- 8 ounces spaghetti
- ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon butter (I use grass-fed)
- 1 loose cup freshly and finely grated mizithra cheese*
- salt (optional)*
- Cook spaghetti to package directions and drain. (Time-saver tip: grate the mizithra while waiting on the pasta to cook).
- Leave the pasta in the colander and return the pot to the stove.
- Melt the butter over medium heat, shaking the pan every so often as the butter continues to cook.
- Once the butter reaches a golden/medium-brown color, remove from heat.
- Add the pasta to the pot and toss to coat with the butter. Alternately, you can add the pasta to a serving dish and add the butter to it there. Just be sure to grab a rubber spatula to get all that butter!
- Add most of the cheese and toss to coat, reserving a small amount to top each plate with.
- Enjoy!
Note 2: I recommend tasting the pasta before adding salt. Depending on the butter and mizithra, it might be salty enough on its own.
Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means I may make a small commission if you make a purchase through them. I only recommend items I personally own and love.
Hi Marissa! This would indeed be great with lamb! Lamb is always a favorite here, but not always available. It would also go nicely with shrimp cooked in brown butter don’t you think?
Hi Dorothy! I love lamb too. Since signing up for my monthly meat CSA, I’ve especially been in lamb heaven! I haven’t tried this with shrimp yet, but that sounds really tasty. I love brown butter so much. <3
Oh wow… brown butter in spaghetti sounds incredible… this whole dish sounds incredible!
Thanks, Sam! It’s tasty stuff and so ridiculously easy.
I grew up on my mom cooking this. I just moved out and made it on my own. My local Kroger sells this cheese and I love it. My mom warms the butter and puts the cheese in the butter and actually leaves the heat on to brown it all together. It comes out kind of brownish which I find tastes better. Anyways, its great!
You just can’t go wrong with butter and cheese. I’ll have to try browning the cheese with the butter next time. I remember when my mom made it, it was a lot browner than how mine comes out. I’ll have to ask her if that’s what she did too!
This looks so easy and tasty, too. I like the idea of serving it with lamb or even on its own.
Thanks! Having it with lamb is one of my favorite combos, though I do tend to have it on its own more often than not. It’s especially great for a quick easy meal after a long day. 😀
I am having this for dinner tonight along with grilled fish. I can’t wait!
Yesssssss! Please let me know how it came out; I’d love to know! <3
Serving it with broccoli and shrimp in it tonight
Awesome; that sounds like a tasty combination. I hope you loved it! <3
When I was a child, we used to frequent a local Italian restaurant where my Dad always ordered their spaghetti and mizithra dish. I remember it looking just like this. I haven’t thought about that in so long, but I am totally going to make this for him soon. Thank you for sharing, and for the trip down memory lane. xo
Oh, I love this! I hope you and your dad enjoy the spaghetti. <3