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–+ servings
creamy lemon pasta

Creamy Lemon Pasta

5 from 1 vote
Silky pasta tossed in rich lemon cream sauce with garlic, parmesan, and fresh herbs. Quick weeknight dinner ready in 20 minutes with bright tangy flavor.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound linguine or spaghetti Any long pasta works
  • 1 tablespoon salt for pasta water Seasons pasta throughout
  • 1 cup reserved pasta cooking water Essential for silky sauce
  • 1 ½ cups heavy cream Creates rich sauce
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter Room temperature
  • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice About 2 lemons
  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest From fresh lemons
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced Fresh garlic essential
  • 1 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated Freshly grated melts better
  • ½ teaspoon salt To taste
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper Freshly ground
  • ¼ cup fresh basil or parsley, chopped For garnish

Equipment

  • 1 Large pot For boiling pasta
  • 1 large skillet 12 inch works best
  • 1 Colander For draining pasta
  • 1 Measuring cups For ingredients
  • 1 Grater For fresh parmesan
  • 1 Tongs For tossing pasta

Method
 

  1. Bring large pot of salted water to boil and cook linguine according to package directions until al dente, then reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining.
  2. While pasta cooks, melt butter in large skillet over medium heat, add minced garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant without browning.
  3. Pour in heavy cream and bring to gentle simmer for 2 to 3 minutes without letting it boil hard.
  4. Remove skillet from heat completely and stir in fresh lemon juice and lemon zest so the acid doesn't curdle the cream.
  5. Add drained pasta to skillet and toss over low heat, adding reserved pasta water a few tablespoons at a time until sauce coats pasta smoothly.
  6. Remove from heat, stir in freshly grated parmesan cheese, season with salt and pepper, then toss in fresh herbs.
  7. Serve immediately while hot with extra parmesan on the side.
    finishing creamy lemon pasta

Nutrition

Serving: 310gCalories: 520kcalCarbohydrates: 58gProtein: 16gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 16gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 85mgSodium: 420mgPotassium: 180mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 18IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 22mgIron: 6mg

Notes

Add lemon juice off heat to prevent curdling. Reserve pasta water before draining for silky sauce consistency. Sauce thickens as it cools so serve immediately. Use freshly grated parmesan for best flavor and texture.

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