Parmesan Lemon Pasta (Printable)

Bright, creamy pasta with zesty lemon and savory Parmesan. Ready in 25 minutes, this Italian-inspired dish offers a light yet satisfying meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 14 oz spaghetti or linguine

→ Sauce

02 - ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
03 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
04 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
05 - Zest of 1 large lemon
06 - Juice of 1 large lemon (about 3 tbsp)
07 - 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
08 - ¼ cup pasta cooking water (reserved)

→ Garnishes

09 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
10 - Sea salt, to taste
11 - Extra Parmesan cheese, for serving
12 - Chopped fresh parsley or basil (optional)

# How To Cook:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ¼ cup of the pasta water before draining.
02 - While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
03 - Stir in the lemon zest and juice, allowing the mixture to warm through for about 30 seconds.
04 - Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat. Gradually add the grated Parmesan, stirring constantly. Pour in the reserved pasta water little by little, mixing until the sauce becomes creamy and clings to the pasta.
05 - Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve immediately, topped with extra Parmesan and fresh herbs if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The sauce comes together in the time it takes pasta to cook making it perfect for weeknight dinners
  • Everything gets emulsified into a silky coating that actually sticks to each strand instead of sliding off
  • You probably have all these ingredients in your kitchen right now
02 -
  • The pasta water creates an emulsion so add it gradually while tossing constantly rather than dumping it all in at once
  • Remove the skillet from heat before adding lemon juice to prevent the sauce from separating
  • This dish waits for no one so have everything ready and serve immediately the sauce tightens up quickly as it cools
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients create the smoothest sauce so take your butter and Parmesan out while the water boils
  • The key is constantly tossing as you add the cheese creating that restaurant quality glossy finish

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