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Lemon Garlic Parmesan Pasta

Zesty Lemon Garlic Parmesan Pasta for Easy Weeknight Dinners

This Lemon Garlic Parmesan Pasta is a quick and flavorful dish perfect for busy weeknights, made with fresh ingredients in just 20 minutes.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Lunch
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Pasta
  • 4 quarts Water Essential for cooking the pasta perfectly.
  • 1 tablespoon Coarse Sea Salt Enhances the flavor of the pasta.
  • 16 oz Spaghetti Feel free to substitute with fettuccine or angel hair.
For the Sauce
  • 3 tablespoons Unsalted Butter Can be replaced with salted butter or olive oil.
  • 2 tablespoons Olive Oil Can use canola or avocado oil.
  • 2 pieces Fresh Lemon Provides juice and zest.
  • 3 cloves Fresh Garlic Adds robust flavor; avoid garlic powder.
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese Grated, Parmigiano Reggiano is recommended.
  • 1 teaspoon Fine Sea Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Freshly Cracked Black Pepper
  • 6-8 tablespoons Flat-Leaf Italian Parsley Chopped, for garnish.
  • Red Pepper Flakes Optional, for added spiciness.

Equipment

  • large pot
  • sauté pan
  • slotted spoon

Method
 

Step-by-Step Instructions
  1. Begin by bringing 4 quarts of water to a rolling boil in a large pot over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of coarse sea salt.
  2. While the water is boiling, melt 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter and 2 tablespoons of olive oil together in a large sauté pan over low heat.
  3. Once the water is boiling, add 16 ounces of spaghetti, stirring gently to prevent sticking. Cook until al dente, usually around 8-10 minutes.
  4. As the spaghetti cooks, add the zest of 2 fresh lemons and 3 minced garlic cloves to the sauté pan.
  5. Just before straining the pasta, reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water. Transfer the cooked spaghetti to the sauté pan.
  6. Squeeze the juice from the lemons over the pasta and add the reserved pasta water. Toss everything together gently.
  7. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in ½ cup of grated Parmesan cheese along with 1 teaspoon of fine sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste.
  8. Serve your Lemon Garlic Parmesan Pasta immediately on warm plates, garnishing generously with chopped flat-leaf Italian parsley.

Nutrition

Serving: 1plateCalories: 450kcalCarbohydrates: 56gProtein: 12gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 600mgPotassium: 200mgFiber: 3gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 400IUVitamin C: 30mgCalcium: 200mgIron: 2mg

Notes

Use fresh ingredients for maximum flavor. Always reserve pasta water to create a silky sauce.

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