Description
This Easy Creamy Lemon Pasta is a quick and flavorful vegetarian dish made with simple ingredients. It’s perfect for weeknights, combining lemon zest and juice with cream, garlic, and parmesan for a rich and zesty sauce.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces of pasta (e.g., spaghetti or linguine)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Meanwhile, in a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter.
- Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the heavy cream and stir in the lemon zest and lemon juice. Let it cook for a couple of minutes to thicken slightly.
- Reduce heat to low and stir in the parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat. If needed, add a bit of reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- Use freshly grated parmesan for best flavor and texture.
- Add grilled chicken or shrimp for extra protein.
- Adjust lemon juice to taste if you prefer a more or less tangy flavor.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
