Classic Lemon Pasta is made with simple ingredients in under 30 minutes! This bright lemon flavored pasta dinner in a creamy lemon sauce. An easy weeknight dinner!
salt and pepper to taste , (about 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper to start)
(optional) chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
In a large pot of salted water, cook the pasta according to the package directions. Make sure to reserve 1 cup of pasta water for the sauce.
Zest the lemon and cut two slices off removing the seeds. Juice the rest of the lemon. Set aside.
While the pasta cooks, in a large saucepan, melt half of the butter (4 tablespoons) over medium heat with the two slices of lemon. Brown the butter (cook for 3-4 minutes) until specks of brown appear and it smells nutty. Quickly add the garlic and red pepper and cook for 30 seconds. Remove the slices of lemon with tongs.
Quickly add the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter, cream, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Add the 1 cup of pasta water (scooping it out if still cooking pasta).
Simmer sauce for 5-7 minutes until it thickens slightly. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper. Add the drained pasta and toss to coat.
Serve immediately and garnish with more Parmesan and fresh parsley if desired. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
Notes
MISE EN PLACE
Mise en place means "a culinary process in which ingredients are prepared and organized (as in a restaurant kitchen) before cooking".Basically to be successful in this recipe it really helps if you half all the ingredients set out and ready to go. Especially in the brown butter part because if you don't add the remaining butter after the butter has browned it could burn.