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White plate with lemon pasta with fresh herbs.

Lemon Pasta Recipe

  • Author: Christine Pittman
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Italian

DESCRIPTION

Pasta bathed in a silky, creamy, lemony sauce makes a quick and simple-yet-satisfying dish.
Garnish with fresh basil or parsley before serving.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 lb. dried spaghetti
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pats
  • 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 lemons, zested
  • 1 and 1/2 cup (about 3 oz.) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 tsp. black pepper

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta until al dente according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water. 
  2. Drain the pasta and return it to same pot.
  3. Set the pot of drained pasta over medium-low heat and add the butter, olive oil, lemon zest, and ½ cup of the reserved pasta water (not all of it!). Toss until butter has melted.
  4. Add Parmesan and pepper and toss until cheese has melted and a creamy sauce has formed.
  5. Add remaining pasta water as needed, a little at a time, to thin the sauce, if desired. Serve warm.

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