Description
This Lemon Pasta with Parmesan is a creamy, bright, and comforting Mediterranean-inspired dish made with fresh lemon zest, Parmesan cheese, butter, and olive oil. Ready in just 20 minutes, this easy pasta recipe delivers rich flavor with simple ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 400 g spaghetti or linguine
- 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Zest of 2 lemons
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Melt butter and olive oil in a large pan over low heat. Add lemon zest and stir for 30 seconds.
- Add drained pasta to the pan and pour in 1/2 cup reserved pasta water. Toss gently.
- Reduce heat to very low and gradually add freshly grated Parmesan while tossing continuously.
- Add lemon juice and adjust consistency with additional pasta water if needed.
- Season with salt and black pepper. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
Use freshly grated Parmesan for best results. Keep heat low to prevent the cheese from clumping. Add grilled shrimp or chicken for extra protein. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat gently with a splash of water.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 35mg