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Creamy spaghetti on a plate with lemon rind and a wedge of lemon and a wooden chopping board with a slice of lemon on a board on a white background.
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5 from 7 votes

Spaghetti al Limone

Spaghetti al limone is a light and simple pasta perfect for summer you can have on the table in 10 minutes or less.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: mains
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 5
Calories: 519kcal
Author: Mimi Harrison
Cost: £0.69

Ingredients

  • 500 g spaghetti (£0.75)
  • 3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped (£0.39)
  • Juice and zest of 1 lemon (£0.30)
  • 100 g parmesan, finely grated (£2.60/2)=(£1.30)
  • 100 ml cream (£1.20/2)=(£0.60)

Cupboard Essentials

  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
Metric - US Standard

Instructions

  • Start by adding your pasta to salted boiling water. Timer set to the packet cook time minus 2 minutes.
  • To a separate pan, add the oil and garlic. Season with salt and gently fry for a couple of minutes. After two minutes, add a ladle of pasta water to prevent the garlic from burning.
  • At this stage add the zest of one lemon and the cream. Stir to combine.
  • When your timer goes off, use your cooking tongs to transfer the pasta into this pan.
  • Slowly pour in the parmesan whilst vigorously moving the pasta around with the tongs. The pasta water & parmesan will form an emulsion to make the sauce.
  • Add the juice of a whole lemon and mix to combine. Season with a pinch of salt and lots of pepper. If the pasta looks dry, add another ladle of pasta water and stir until you get your desired consistency.
  • The pasta should be al dente at this point so you’re all good to go! Serve up with an extra squeeze of lemon if you like it tangy & a pinch of red pepper flakes if you like a little heat.

Notes

  • Cook pasta al dente by boiling it for 2 minutes less than package instructions.
  • Save pasta water to enhance the sauce consistency with its starch.
  • Use freshly grated Parmesan for superior flavor.

Nutrition

Calories: 519kcal | Carbohydrates: 76g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 13g