Pasta Al Limone Recipe
Pasta al Limone is a bright and creamy Italian pasta dish that combines the fresh zest and juice of lemon with rich butter, cream, and Parmesan cheese. This simple yet elegant recipe delivers a luscious, tangy sauce that perfectly coats al dente spaghetti, making it a perfect quick weeknight meal or a refined dinner option.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta
- 12 oz. spaghetti
- Kosher salt (for boiling water)
For the Sauce
- 1 lemon (zest and juice separated)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 4 tbsp. unsalted butter
- 1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
- Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the spaghetti, stirring occasionally, until al dente as per the package instructions. Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the pasta cooking water for later use.
- Prepare Lemon Zest and Juice: Using a vegetable peeler, carefully slice off 1 to 2 strips of lemon peel, avoiding the white pith as much as possible. Cut these strips into thin strips and set them aside for garnish. Next, zest the remaining lemon directly into a large saucepan, and juice the lemon into a small bowl.
- Make the Sauce: Add the heavy cream and unsalted butter to the saucepan with the lemon zest. Warm the mixture over low heat, letting it come to a gentle simmer. Stir occasionally to infuse the lemon zest flavor into the cream and melt the butter evenly. This should take about 5 minutes.
- Toss Pasta in Sauce: Using tongs, transfer the cooked spaghetti into the saucepan. Toss it well to coat all the strands with the creamy lemon sauce. Add the grated Parmesan cheese and continue tossing until the cheese has melted fully and the sauce becomes creamy.
- Adjust Sauce Consistency: Slowly ladle up to 1 cup of the reserved pasta water into the sauce while tossing. This helps loosen the sauce and gives it a glossy, smooth texture.
- Finish and Serve: Drizzle the freshly squeezed lemon juice over the pasta and season generously with freshly ground black pepper. Garnish the dish with the reserved thin lemon strips before serving.
Notes
- For best flavor, use fresh lemons and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
- Reserve pasta water carefully as it helps emulsify and bind the sauce.
- You can adjust the amount of lemon juice depending on your taste preference for tanginess.
- This dish is best served immediately to enjoy the creamy texture and fresh lemon aroma.
- To make it lighter, you can substitute half-and-half instead of heavy cream, though sauce will be less rich.
Keywords: Pasta al Limone, lemon pasta, creamy lemon pasta, Italian pasta recipe, spaghetti al limone
Find it online: https://kitchenbyclara.com/pasta-al-limone-recipe/
