4 Ingredient Lemon Pasta
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Craving a quick and tasty pasta dish? This 4-ingredient lemon pasta is perfect for you! Ready in just 15 minutes, it’s a breeze to make on busy weeknights. You’ll love how the zesty lemon, creamy butter, and savory parmesan blend into a luscious sauce that coats every strand of pasta.
This simple recipe brings a taste of Italy right to your kitchen. With only spaghetti, lemon, butter, and cheese, you can whip up a restaurant-quality meal at home. The secret is in the emulsification process, which creates a silky smooth sauce without any heavy cream. Give it a try tonight!
Exact Ingredients List
Here’s what you’ll need to make this simple and tasty lemon pasta:
- 8 oz (227 g) spaghetti
- 1/4 cup (2 fl oz/59 ml) fresh lemon juice
- Zest from one lemon
- 1/2 cup (113 g) salted butter, cut into 8 pieces
- 1 cup (120 g) freshly grated parmesan cheese
You’ll also need about 2 cups of pasta cooking water, which you’ll reserve before draining the pasta.
Optional garnishes:
- Extra lemon zest
- Freshly ground black pepper
- More grated parmesan cheese
- Chopped fresh parsley
With just these few ingredients, you can create a creamy, zesty pasta dish that’s sure to impress. The key is using fresh lemon juice and high-quality parmesan cheese for the best flavor.
Instructions
You’ll love how easy this lemon pasta is to make! Here’s what to do:
Boil a big pot of water and cook the spaghetti until it’s al dente. Save 2 cups of the pasta water before draining.
Put 1½ cups of the pasta water and lemon juice in the empty pot. Heat it up until you see small bubbles. Add the cooked pasta and mix it in.
Now for the fun part! Add the butter bit by bit, stirring as you go. Make sure each piece melts before adding the next. You’ll see the sauce get nice and creamy.
Take the pot off the heat. Sprinkle in some parmesan and stir until it melts. Keep doing this until you’ve used all the cheese.
Stir in the lemon zest and taste it. Add salt if needed. If it’s too thick, splash in a little more pasta water.
Your pasta is ready! You can top it with extra lemon zest, black pepper, or parsley if you like. Enjoy your quick and yummy meal!
Possible Substitutes List & Recipe Variations
You can swap out some ingredients in this lemon pasta recipe. Try these options:
- Pasta: Use any long pasta like linguine or fettuccine instead of spaghetti.
- Lemon: Lime juice works too, for a different citrus kick.
- Butter: Olive oil is a good substitute for a lighter dish.
- Cheese: Pecorino Romano or Grana Padano can replace Parmesan.
Want to add more flavors? Try these tasty additions:
- Garlic: Sauté 2-3 minced cloves in the butter before adding pasta.
- Herbs: Toss in fresh basil, parsley, or thyme at the end.
- Protein: Top with grilled chicken, shrimp, or pan-seared salmon.
- Veggies: Mix in steamed broccoli, peas, or sautéed spinach.
For a creamier sauce, you can add a dollop of mascarpone or heavy cream. If you like it spicy, sprinkle in some red pepper flakes.
Remember, these changes might affect cooking times or ingredient amounts. Adjust as needed to keep the dish balanced and tasty.
Tips, Tricks & Storing
Make sure your pasta water is very starchy. This helps create a silky sauce. Don’t rinse the pasta after cooking.
Use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor. Bottled juice won’t taste as good.
Grate your own parmesan cheese. Pre-grated cheese often has anti-caking agents that can make the sauce grainy.
If your sauce breaks, add a splash of pasta water and whisk vigorously. This usually fixes it.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The sauce may separate when cold.
To reheat, add a splash of water or milk to the pasta. Warm it gently on the stove, stirring often.
For extra flavor, try adding some garlic or fresh herbs like basil or parsley.
You can use other long pasta shapes like linguine or fettuccine if you don’t have spaghetti.