Old Spaghetti Factory Browned Butter and Mizithra Cheese

There’s something magical about the combination of nutty browned butter and sharp, aged cheese. The Old Spaghetti Factory’s signature Mizithra Cheese and Browned Butter pasta perfectly exemplifies how a few simple, high-quality ingredients can create an unforgettable dish. This copycat recipe captures the restaurant’s unique twist on the traditional Italian brown butter pasta by combining the distinctive flavors of Mizithra and Romano cheeses.

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What makes the Spaghetti Factory Mizithra Cheese and Browned Butter so good?

Brown Butter Spaghetti is a traditional Italian recipe for brown butter pasta, but The Old Spaghetti Factory makes it its own with Mizithra cheese. This minor tweak makes a significant difference in the dish’s taste without adding extra work.

If you love the nuttiness of browned butter, you are going to want to try this new take on tradition. And if you are new to brown butter sauce, this recipe will open up a lot of new pasta-bilities. 

Why You Should Try This Recipe for Mizithra Cheese and Browned Butter

The secret to this dish’s success lies in two key elements: properly browned butter, which provides a deep, nutty flavor, and the combination of Mizithra and Romano cheeses. While many copycat recipes omit the Romano, it’s essential for achieving the perfect balance of sharp and nutty flavors that makes the restaurant version so memorable.

What is Mizithra Cheese?

There’s no shame in not knowing about Mizithra cheese; it’s uncommon in the US. Mizithra is a unique Greek cheese that incorporates the whey left behind from making sheep—or goat-milk cheese. So, what does Mizithra cheese taste like? Younger Mizithra cheese has a soft and creamy consistency similar to ricotta, but once aged, it becomes harder with a pronounced nutty flavor. Go with the aged version for this recipe.

If you are wondering where to buy Mizithra cheese, the truth is that it can be challenging to find. And if you do find it, it isn’t cheap. So, if you don’t want to spend the effort or money to get Mizithra, you can always substitute Parmesan cheese. The flavor won’t be precisely the same as what you get in the restaurant, but it will still be delicious.

The Old Spaghetti Factory Mizithra Cheese Pasta Ingredients 

For the Pasta

• Spaghetti – Forms the base of the dish; it can be substituted with your preferred pasta shape
• Unsalted butter – Creates the rich, nutty brown butter sauce
• Mizithra cheese, freshly grated – Provides unique nutty, salty flavor
• Romano cheese, freshly grated – Adds sharp, tangy notes that balance the Mizithra
• Fresh parsley, chopped – Adds fresh color and subtle herb flavor
• Salt for pasta water – Seasons the pasta from within

Ingredient Notes

The Old Spaghetti Factory uses spaghetti noodles in this dish, but you can use your favorite pasta type. 

Why not make things easier by buying The Old Spaghetti Factory Grated Mizithra & Romano Cheese Blend from the store? It can be found at some grocery stores. You can also use grated Parmesan as a Mizithra cheese substitute.

How to Make Old Spaghetti Factory Mizithra Cheese Pasta

To prepare this dish:

1. Bring a stockpot of well-salted water to boil. Cook the pasta to al dente according to the package instructions. While the pasta is cooking, prepare the rest of the dish. 
2. Grate the Mizithra and Romano cheeses. Set aside.
3. Rinse, dry, and chop the leaves of the parsley. Please keep it for later. 
4. Brown the butter in a small saucepan. If you don’t know how to brown butter, check out the “A Bit About Browning Butter” section below. 

5. Toss the hot browned butter and pasta in a large mixing bowl. 
6. Add the grated Mizithra and Romano cheeses while tossing the pasta to coat the pasta evenly.
7. Plate the sauced pasta and garnish with chopped parsley. Serve with extra grated cheese on the side. 

A Bit About Browning Butter 

Browning butter doesn’t mean burning it. But don’t worry if you are not a master chef; as long as you pay attention, it’s not complicated:

1. Heat a light-colored saucepan over medium heat. Using a light-colored saucepan makes it much easier to tell the color of the butter. 
2. Cut the butter into even-sized pieces. Using pieces of butter that are all the same size ensures even melting and prevents burning. 
3. Gently swirl the saucepan and stir with a silicone spatula. 
4. While swirling the saucepan, let the butter come to a slow simmer. Adjust the heat as needed.
5. Once the butter stops foaming and the butter turns a light tan, remove the saucepan from the heat.
6. Continue stirring the butter in the saucepan off the heat. It will continue to darken and develop a nutty smell, but you are less likely to burn it. 
7. Pour the browned butter into a bowl. Don’t leave behind the brown bits since they have the most intense flavor.  

What to Serve With This Spaghetti Factory Mizithra Cheese Recipe

You can get bread or salad at the restaurant, but at home, you have many more choices. Here are just a few:

• Sauteed broccoli rabe. The bitterness of the broccoli robe pairs incredibly well with this pasta dish’s nutty, earthy flavor. 
• Garlic bread. Everyone loves this classic side, and it’s so easy to make. 
• Chicken breast. A simply seasoned grilled chicken breast is perfect paired with this pasta. 

How to Store the Leftovers 

It is best to cook only as much as you’re ready to enjoy immediately since this dish doesn’t keep very well. But the good news is that it only takes a few minutes to make the sauce, and you can store cooked and cooled pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for a couple of days. 

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