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Creamy Lemon Garlic Pasta

Creamy Lemon Garlic Pasta Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 500

Ingredients
  

  • 8 oz dried linguine or spaghetti
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tsp lemon zest
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • Freshly cracked black pepper
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Optional: chopped parsley and red pepper flakes

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat, add garlic, and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
  2. Stir in cream, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Simmer gently 3 minutes until slightly thickened.
  3. Add drained pasta to the skillet. Toss with tongs, adding pasta water 1 tbsp at a time until the sauce is glossy and coats the pasta.
  4. Remove from heat. Stir in lemon juice and Parmesan. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve immediately with extra cheese, black pepper, and parsley if you like.

Notes

For the best flavor, use fresh lemon juice and a good quality Parmesan. The sauce thickens as it sits; if you’re holding it, keep it warm and add a little pasta water before serving.