Description
Creamy lemon butter garlic pasta sauce delivers Mediterranean comfort in minutes. Quick preparations featuring fresh ingredients guarantee delightful meals you’ll savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 300 g (10.5 oz) linguine or spaghetti
- 40 g (2 tbsps) unsalted butter
- 6 garlic cloves, finely sliced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 0.5 tsp red chili flakes
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 50 g (0.5 cup) grated Parmesan (or veggie hard Italian cheese)
- A handful freshly chopped parsley
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Cook pasta in generously salted boiling water until perfectly al dente, reserving some starchy cooking liquid for sauce manipulation.
- Sauce Foundation: Gently melt butter with olive oil in a spacious skillet over low-medium heat, creating a luxurious flavor base.
- Aromatic Infusion: Add minced garlic and red chili flakes, sautéing briefly to release their intense fragrance without scorching, approximately 1-2 minutes.
- Pasta Integration: Transfer cooked pasta into the skillet, using tongs to coat each strand thoroughly with the butter sauce, adjusting consistency with reserved pasta water as needed.
- Flavor Enhancement: Sprinkle lemon zest and squeeze fresh lemon juice over the pasta, introducing vibrant citrus undertones while incorporating grated Parmesan cheese to create a silky, rich coating.
- Final Touches: Garnish with chopped parsley, season with salt and pepper, and serve immediately, offering optional additional cheese and lemon zest for those seeking extra indulgence.
Notes
- Pasta Water Magic: Reserve some starchy pasta water to help create a silky, smooth sauce that perfectly coats each pasta strand.
- Garlic Bloom Technique: Sauté garlic and red chili flakes carefully over low-medium heat for 1-2 minutes to release maximum flavor without burning.
- Zesty Flavor Boost: Fresh lemon zest and juice are crucial for adding bright, vibrant notes that cut through the richness of butter and cheese.
- Cheese Coating Trick: Grate Parmesan directly over the hot pasta to help it melt seamlessly, creating a creamy, luxurious sauce that clings to every bite.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 307
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 190 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 36 mg