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Lemon Parmesan Pasta

A quick creamy pasta in a lemony garlic and parmesan cream sauce, loosened with pasta water. Makes two generous main servings or four smaller side portions.

2 servings · 25 min · main · Italian · vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 8 ounce gemelli pasta, plus palmful of sea salt for water
  • 2 teaspoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • ½ cup yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 clove garlic, large, minced
  • 1 pinch kosher salt, plus more to taste, to taste
  • 2 teaspoon lemon zest, about 1 good size lemon
  • 3–4 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed (about 1 lemon)
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • ¼ cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated, plus more for serving
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, minced
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Method

  1. Bring a pot of salted water to boil. I do about a palmful of fine sea salt. Once boiling, add in pasta and cook follow[ing] package directions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining the cooked pasta.
  2. Meanwhile, in a 10-inch skillet, add olive oil with unsalted butter and heat over medium-low.
  3. Once melted, add the onion, garlic and a pinch of kosher salt. Stir and sauté until soft and translucent.
  4. when the onions are soft, add in red pepper flakes and lemon zest.
  5. Next pour in the lemon juice and stir while pouring in the heavy cream. Simmer over medium-low to low heat whi[le ...] on the pasta to finish cooking.
  6. Add the cooked pasta and grate in the parmesan cheese. Toss to combine. Taste and season with more salt if desi[red].
  7. Add a few splashes of pasta water to thin or loosen up the sauce as needed. Serve immediately.
  8. Serve in shallow bowls topped with more parmesan cheese and minced parsley.

Notes

Serves 2 main dishes or as 4 sides. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.