Description
This Easy Lemon Pasta Recipe is a creamy yet light Mediterranean dish made with fresh lemon zest, garlic, butter, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese. Ready in just 25 minutes, it’s perfect for busy weeknights or elegant dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 400 g spaghetti or linguine
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Zest of 1 large lemon
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup reserved pasta water
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water before draining.
- In a large pan, melt butter with olive oil over medium heat.
- Add minced garlic and sauté gently for about 1 minute without browning.
- Stir in lemon zest and fresh lemon juice.
- Add drained pasta directly to the pan and toss to coat.
- Sprinkle in grated Parmesan and gradually add reserved pasta water while tossing until the sauce becomes silky and creamy.
- Season with salt and pepper, garnish with parsley, and serve immediately.
Notes
Use freshly grated Parmesan for best melting texture. Add pasta water slowly to control sauce consistency. Avoid overcooking lemon juice to keep the flavor bright. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 35mg