Garlic Lemon Pasta

Lemon Spaghetti or Garlic Lemon Pasta is made without cream but trust me when I say this sauce is creamy delicious. Made with fresh lemon juice and zest, this light pasta dish is a Mediterranean recipe you will adore.

Welcome to #LemonWeek 2022 hosted by Lynn from Fresh April Flours and Rebecca from Devour Dinner. 

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Can I just tell you about this amazing dish real quick? Of course you can use heavy cream in this recipe, but why would you when it's so simple and thickens up so nicely? Lemon Garlic Pasta Sauce is a recipe you will love for years and years to come.

I'll walk you through exactly how I make it and I'll also include directions to use the Instant Pot, electric pressure cooker, as well. But however you choose to make it, just know that when using fresh lemons, lemon zest and quality pasta, this is a dish you will truly love.

Now, if you are looking for other pasta flavors try my Bowtie Pasta with a light cream sauce, or my Teriyaki Noodles a favorite side. You might even like this cold pasta salad truly a favorite at potlucks. Pepperoni Pasta Salad is a keeper recipe.

Ingredients for Lemon Pasta recipe

Noodles. I like Linguini, yes, I know I call this Lemon Spaghetti but I still like to use Linguini.

Fresh Ingredients. Garlic, Basil, Lemons and Zest

Cheese. Romano or Parmesan Cheese

Seasonings. Salt and Pepper

How to make Lemon Butter Sauce for Pasta

Let's begin by gathering ingredients, and the supplies you will need. It's helpful to have everything easily accessible when getting started as this recipe really doesn't take much time at all.

Stove Top Directions for Garlic Lemon Pasta

Boil noodles in a large pot of water. Make sure to add salt to water before adding noodles. Cook noodles according to package direction by cutting time by 2 minutes.

If the package says to cook for 10 minutes. Then only cook pasta for 8 minutes in boiling water. The additional time will be cooked in a skillet.

Meanwhile, let's zest an entire large lemon. All that delicious zest will come in nicely. Then juice 2 lemons making sure to remove any seeds. Finely grate Romano Cheese and wash fresh basil.

Over medium to high heat, heat Olive Oil or Butter. Add minced garlic and quickly saute. Being careful to not overcook as garlic tends to burn quickly.

Once pasta has cooked for allotted time and reached al dente. Carefully remove pasta from water and place in skillet making sure to reserve 1 cup of pasta water cooking liquid. This is important because pasta water is filled with starches that will help to thicken the delicious garlic lemon butter pasta sauce.

Toss the noodles with the garlic and add the reserved pasta water allowing the noodles to cook for the additional 2 minutes.

This start to move quickly here, let's add half the lemon juice and at least 1 tablespoon of lemon zest right into the noodles along with some fresh basil. Now allow all these ingredients to simmer together. Can you smell the lemon? It's wonderful!

As the time winds down on those final 2 minutes, go ahead and add the remaining lemon juice and finely grated Romano cheeses. Stir together allowing cheese to melt.

Serve pasta on a plate and garnish with additional lemon zest and basil. Extra cheese can also be used as well. Season with pepper to taste

Your Pasta al Limone is complete! Mmmmm, it's scrumptious.

Instant Pot Directions for Lemon Pasta Recipe

Add water with salt to Instant Pot liner and carefully layer pasta in a criss cross method in the liquid. Place lid on. Seal pressure value and set Instant Pot to 3 minutes. Allowing for a 3 minute natural pressure release.

While Instant Pot is pressure cooking take the time to wash fresh herbs, grate cheese, and zest and juice lemons.

Open pressure value when cook time is complete and drain liquid making sure to reserve 1 cup of pasta water.

Heat Instant Pot using the Satue button and wait until it reads hot. Add Olive Oil or melt the Butter and minced garlic to saute until just golden.

Add pasta and 1 cup reserved liquid and allow pasta to saute for the 1-2 minutes. Most of the liquid will evaporate or absorb into the noodles.

Stirring occasionally as needed and add lemon juice and zest and continue to saute. Add fresh cut herbs to pasta and continue to stir.

Just before cooking time is complete, add freshly grated cheese. Cheese will melt with heat.

Serve pasta on plate and garnish with lemon zest, basil and extra cheese if desired. Season with pepper to taste

Substitutions.

There are many substitutions and I'm happy to share my tips!

Pasta. Try Spaghetti, Linguini, Fetechini, or any pasta you prefer

Herbs. In this recipe you can substitute Fresh Mint for Basil. Although I do prefer Basil.

Cheese. Romano Cheese is preferred but a good Parmesan Cheese is also excellent

Where did Lemon Pasta Originate?

Let me tell you that during my visit to the Amalfi Coast I saw the most beautiful lemons ever. They were so fragrant and delicious on every dish we tried. It's no wonder that this pasta dish came from the Sorrento Peninsula.

Lemons are grown in all the southern Italian Regions but most will agree that they are the best from the Amalfi Coast.

Fun Fact.

Limone is the Italian word given to Lemon Trees or Lemons. I think it's such a beautiful language and only wish I could speak it.

Friday #LemonWeek Recipes

• Lemon Poppy Seed Sweet Rolls by Fresh April Flours
• Grilled Chicken Piccata by Palatable Pastime
• Creamy Lemon Smoothie Recipe by Blogghetti
• Gluten Free Lemon Bars by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Lemon Tarragon Salmon by Art Of Natural Living
• Meyer Lemon Vanilla Shortbread Cookies by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Lemon Poppy Seed Thumb Print Cookies by Cheese Curd In Paradise
• Lemon Blueberry Cookies by Best Cookie Recipes
• Lemon Tea Bread by The Freshman Cook
• Homemade Lemon Cake by Simply Inspired Meals
• Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake by The Fresh Cooky
• Rosemary Watermelon Lemonade by The Spiffy Cookie
• Lemon Crumb Muffins with Lemon Glaze by An Affair From The Heart
• Lemon Poppy Seed Cake by Kathryn’s Kitchen Blog
• Ina Garten's Lemon Chicken by Jen Around The World
• Lemon Ice Cream by Lemon Blossoms
• Lemon Sour Cream Pound Cake by Home Cooked Harvest
• Grilled Lemon Herb Flatbread by That Recipe
• Lemon Meringue Cheesecake by The Redhead Baker
• Oven Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken and Gnocchi by Jonesin’ For A Taste

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Garlic Lemon Pasta
Lemon Spaghetti or Garlic Lemon Pasta is made without cream. Made with fresh lemon juice and zest and it's refreshingly delicious.
Prep Time8 minutes mins
Cook Time7 minutes mins
Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 2
Ingredients
• 8 ounces Linguini Pasta
• 2 Lemons
• Fresh Basil
• 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
• ½ Cup Romano Cheese - Finely Grated
• Lemon Zest
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
Instructions
Stove Top Directions
• Boil noodles in a large pot of water. Make sure to add salt to water before adding noodles. Cook noodles according to package direction by cutting time by 2 minutes. If the package says to cook for 10 minutes. Then only cook pasta for 8 minutes in boiling water. The additional time will be cooked in a skillet.
• Over medium to high heat, heat Olive Oil or Butter. Add minced garlic and quickly saute. Being careful to not overcook as garlic tends to burn quickly.
• Once pasta has cooked for allotted time and reached al dente. Carefully remove pasta from water and place in skillet making sure to reserve 1 cup of pasta water cooking liquid.
• Toss the noodles with the garlic and add the reserved pasta water allowing the noodles to cook for the additional 2 minutes.
• add half the lemon juice and at least 1 tablespoon of lemon zest right into the noodles along with some fresh basil. 
• As the time winds down on those final 2 minutes, go ahead and add the remaining lemon juice and finely grated Romano cheeses. Stir together allowing cheese to melt.
• Serve pasta on a plate and garnish with additional lemon zest and basil. Extra cheese can also be used as well. Season with pepper to taste
Instant Pot Directions
• Add enough water to cover pasta with salt to Instant Pot liner and carefully layer pasta in a criss cross method in the liquid. Place lid on. Seal pressure value and set Instant Pot to 3 minutes. Allowing for a 3 minute natural pressure release.
• While Instant Pot is pressure cooking take the time to wash fresh herbs, grate cheese, and zest and juice lemons.
• Open pressure value when cook time is complete and drain liquid making sure to reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
• Heat Instant Pot using the Satue button and wait until it reads hot. Add Olive Oil or melt the Butter and minced garlic to saute until just golden.
• Add pasta and 1 cup reserved liquid and allow pasta to saute for the 1-2 minutes. Most of the liquid will evaporate or absorb into the noodles.
• Stirring occasionally as needed and add lemon juice and zest and continue to saute. Add fresh cut herbs to pasta and continue to stir.
• Just before cooking time is complete, add freshly grated cheese. Cheese will melt with heat.
• Serve pasta on plate and garnish with lemon zest, basil and extra cheese if desired. Season with pepper to taste
Notes
Substitutions.
There are many substitutions and I'm happy to share my tips!
Pasta. Try Spaghetti, Linguini, Fetechini, or any pasta you prefer
Herbs. In this recipe you can substitute Fresh Mint for Basil. Although I do prefer Basil.
Cheese. Romano Cheese is preferred but a good Parmesan Cheese is also excellent
Have you made this recipe?Mention @devourdinner or tag us #devourdinner! Please leave a comment and rating below. Thank you!
Nutrition Disclaimer
All nutrition values are approximate and calculated by a plugin and are provided as a courtesy. Adding or subtracting ingredients will change the nutritional value.
Nutrition
Calories: 673kcal | Carbohydrates: 96g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 309mg | Potassium: 424mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 128IU | Vitamin C: 57mg | Calcium: 318mg | Iron: 2mg
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