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Quick Creamy Lemon Parmesan Pasta

A close-up of a generous serving of Creamy Lemon Pasta tossed in a rich sauce and topped with fresh chopped parsley.
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Make this fast, bright, and velvety pasta dish for a simple weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

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  • 12 oz pasta (linguine or spaghetti)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the starchy cooking water. Drain the pasta.
  2. While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Do not let the garlic brown.
  3. Reduce the heat to low. Pour in the heavy cream and 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water. Stir constantly until the sauce just begins to simmer gently.
  4. Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, and lemon zest until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
  5. Add the drained pasta to the skillet. Toss everything together until the pasta is fully coated in the velvety sauce. Add more pasta water, one tablespoon at a time, if the sauce seems too thick.
  6. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately, topped with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.

Notes

  • For a richer sauce, you can substitute half-and-half for heavy cream, but the texture will be slightly less thick.
  • If you prefer a tangier flavor, add a small pinch of citric acid or a teaspoon of white wine vinegar along with the lemon juice.
  • To make this dish non-vegetarian, add cooked shrimp or grilled chicken breast when tossing the pasta in the sauce.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://tastytipster.com/creamy-lemon-pasta-recipe/