Description
A quick, easy, and flavorful vegetarian pasta dish featuring a bright lemon garlic cream sauce perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 5 cloves garlic, minced (about 1.5 tablespoons)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Juice of 1 large lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
- 1 cup heavy cream (240 ml)
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (100 g)
- 12 ounces spaghetti or fettuccine (340 g)
- ½ cup vegetable broth (120 ml)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped (15 g)
- Optional add-ins: 2 cups baby spinach (60 g), 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved (150 g), ¼ cup toasted pine nuts (30 g)
Instructions
- Prep your ingredients: zest and juice the lemon, mince garlic, chop parsley, grate Parmesan, and measure cream and broth.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain pasta.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and golden but not browned.
- Add vegetable broth to the skillet and simmer for 2 minutes to reduce slightly.
- Stir in heavy cream and lemon zest. Simmer gently for 3-4 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
- Remove pan from heat. Stir in lemon juice, then gradually add grated Parmesan, stirring constantly until melted and smooth. Add reserved pasta water as needed to loosen sauce.
- Add drained pasta to the sauce and toss gently to coat. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Stir in chopped parsley and optional baby spinach or cherry tomatoes to wilt slightly.
- Serve immediately with extra Parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil.
Notes
Save pasta water to help sauce cling to noodles. Cook garlic gently to avoid bitterness. Use fresh lemon zest and juice for best flavor. Add cheese off heat to prevent grainy sauce. Room temperature cream prevents sauce separation. Adjust seasoning at the end. For a richer finish, swirl in 1 tablespoon cold butter before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approxima
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 360
- Fat: 17
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 46
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 14
Keywords: lemon garlic pasta, creamy pasta, vegetarian dinner, easy pasta recipe, quick weeknight meal