Creamy Lemon Pasta
Creamy Lemon Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, as needed
- 1 tablespoon butter, as needed
- 2 garlic, cloves, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, as needed
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, as needed
- 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes, as needed
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, as needed
- 1 lemon zest, from 1 large lemon or 2 small lemons
- 1/4 cup lemon juice, from 1 large lemon or 2 small lemons
- 3/4 cup cooking cream, (less than 200ml)
- 1/2 cup pasta water, from boiled pasta, as needed
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, optional
- 500 g pasta, such as Caserecce
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped, plus more for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve at least 1 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
⏱️ 10 min
- 2
While the pasta is cooking, heat a large pan over medium heat. Add olive oil and butter. Once the butter is melted, add the minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 2 min
- 3
Add salt, black pepper, chili flakes, and dried thyme to the pan. Stir to combine with the garlic and oil.
⏱️ 1 min
- 4
Add the lemon zest from one large lemon (or two small lemons) to the pan. Mix well, ensuring the zest's aroma is released into the oil and butter.
⏱️ 1 min
- 5
Pour in the lemon juice from the same lemon(s) whose zest was used. Stir to incorporate.
⏱️ 1 min
- 6
Reduce the heat to low. Add the cooking cream (less than 200ml) to the pan and stir until it's well combined with the other ingredients.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
Gradually add some of the reserved starchy pasta water to the sauce, stirring continuously. Start with about 1/4 cup and add more as needed until the sauce reaches a smooth, creamy consistency.
⏱️ 2 min
- 8
If using, stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it melts into the sauce and is fully combined.
⏱️ 1 min
- 9
Add the cooked and drained pasta to the pan with the sauce.
⏱️ 1 min
- 10
Add the chopped fresh parsley to the pasta.
⏱️ 1 min
- 11
Toss all ingredients thoroughly until the pasta is fully coated in the creamy lemon sauce.
⏱️ 2 min
- 12
Serve the creamy lemon pasta immediately in plates. Garnish with additional chopped fresh parsley, if desired.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Creamy Lemon Pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, as needed
- 1 tablespoon butter, as needed
- 2 garlic, cloves, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, as needed
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, as needed
- 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes, as needed
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, as needed
- 1 lemon zest, from 1 large lemon or 2 small lemons
- 1/4 cup lemon juice, from 1 large lemon or 2 small lemons
- 3/4 cup cooking cream, (less than 200ml)
- 1/2 cup pasta water, from boiled pasta, as needed
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, optional
- 500 g pasta, such as Caserecce
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped, plus more for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve at least 1 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
⏱️ 10 min - 2
While the pasta is cooking, heat a large pan over medium heat. Add olive oil and butter. Once the butter is melted, add the minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 2 min - 3
Add salt, black pepper, chili flakes, and dried thyme to the pan. Stir to combine with the garlic and oil.
⏱️ 1 min - 4
Add the lemon zest from one large lemon (or two small lemons) to the pan. Mix well, ensuring the zest's aroma is released into the oil and butter.
⏱️ 1 min - 5
Pour in the lemon juice from the same lemon(s) whose zest was used. Stir to incorporate.
⏱️ 1 min - 6
Reduce the heat to low. Add the cooking cream (less than 200ml) to the pan and stir until it's well combined with the other ingredients.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
Gradually add some of the reserved starchy pasta water to the sauce, stirring continuously. Start with about 1/4 cup and add more as needed until the sauce reaches a smooth, creamy consistency.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
If using, stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it melts into the sauce and is fully combined.
⏱️ 1 min - 9
Add the cooked and drained pasta to the pan with the sauce.
⏱️ 1 min - 10
Add the chopped fresh parsley to the pasta.
⏱️ 1 min - 11
Toss all ingredients thoroughly until the pasta is fully coated in the creamy lemon sauce.
⏱️ 2 min - 12
Serve the creamy lemon pasta immediately in plates. Garnish with additional chopped fresh parsley, if desired.
⏱️ 1 min