Easy Lemon Pasta for a Calm Weeknight

Easy Lemon Pasta for a Calm Weeknight

This is the weeknight tray I make when I want the kitchen to look like a pin and still eat in 30 minutes. Lemon pasta, a green salad, and one warm pan.

Serves 2

  • 200 g spaghetti
  • 1 lemon, zest and juice
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove, smashed
  • A handful of parsley or basil
  • Salt, black pepper, and parmesan if you have it

Method

  1. Boil the pasta in salted water. Save a cup of the water before you drain.
  2. In a wide pan, warm the butter, oil, and garlic until the garlic smells sweet, not brown. Lift the garlic out.
  3. Add the drained pasta, lemon zest, a squeeze of juice, and a splash of pasta water. Toss until it looks glossy.
  4. Salt, pepper, herbs, and cheese. Taste before you add more lemon. It should be bright, not sharp.

The plate

Twirl the pasta, add a few herb leaves, and a lemon wedge on the side. A linen napkin and a plain plate do the rest. This is the recipe pin: one pan, one color, no 14 ingredients.

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