Description
This fresh and vibrant Lemon Pasta recipe is a perfect quick and easy meal, combining al dente spaghetti with a zesty lemon sauce made from olive oil, garlic, fresh parsley, lemon zest, and a touch of crushed red pepper. Finished with Parmesan cheese, it’s a light yet flavorful dish ideal for weeknight dinners or entertaining guests.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 pound spaghetti
- Salt (for salting pasta water)
- ½ cup reserved pasta cooking water
Sauce
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tablespoons fresh parsley (plus more for serving)
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for serving)
- Black pepper (to taste, for serving)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water and then drain the pasta.
- Prepare Sauce: In a large skillet over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add minced garlic, fresh parsley, and crushed red pepper, cooking until fragrant, about 1 minute. This infuses the oil with flavor and softens the garlic.
- Add Lemon and Pasta: Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and the reserved pasta water. Then add the drained spaghetti to the skillet, tossing to combine and heating the pasta through for about 1 minute. The pasta water helps create a silky sauce.
- Finish with Cheese: Remove the skillet from heat, then stir in freshly grated Parmesan cheese until it clings beautifully to the pasta, creating a creamy texture.
- Serve: Plate the lemon pasta, topping with extra fresh parsley and additional Parmesan cheese if desired. Season with black pepper to taste and serve immediately.
Notes
- This lemon pasta comes together quickly with pantry staples and fresh ingredients, perfect for an easy weeknight meal.
- Reserving pasta cooking water is essential to create a silky sauce that coats the pasta evenly.
- You can adjust the amount of crushed red pepper to control the dish’s spiciness.
- For a vegetarian version, ensure Parmesan cheese is suitable for vegetarians or substitute with a plant-based cheese alternative.
- Use fresh lemon juice and zest for maximum brightness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 oz cooked pasta
- Calories: 292 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 151 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 4 mg
