A classic Italian flavor that you may not often associate with Italian cooking is lemon. Lemon in cookies, in pastries, lemon cakes, lemon fish, if there is a place to use lemon, we Italians will use it. Oddly, I do not care for a lemon meringue pie. Perhaps I have just never had a really good one. I am picky about my meringues, and my pies.
Trying to keep things light and having a pantry that is full, but nothing defrosted from the freezer I remembered the spaghetti al limone (Spaghetti with Lemon Sauce) I had loved years ago. Most Italians that make this light and refreshing dish make the sauce in a bowl, using a no cook method. I personally prefer the stove top to cook the garlic and help thicken the sauce.
I hope you enjoy it! We did. Em and I couldn't get enough. Mr. W doesn't care for olive oil as much as Em and I do.
Spaghetti al Limone
1 pound spaghetti
1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
2 garlic cloves, ground on microplane or minced
2/3 cup fresh grated Parmesan
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (2 large lemons juiced)
Salt
Fresh cracked black pepper
1 lemon zested (about 1 tablespoon)
2 tablespoons fresh parsley leaves, chopped
Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally
In a medium pan add 1 tablespoon olive oil and 2 garlic cloves. Cook garlic until starting to brown. Add the remaining olive oil, lemon juice and parmesan to the pan. Whisk until combined and thickened.
Season with salt and pepper. Add lemon zest and parsley and combine.
Serve immediately.
Click here for a printable version of this recipe - The Slow Roasted Italian.com
awesome flavors...sounds especially tasty dear..:)
ReplyDeleteTasty Appetite
Seriously WHY must you do this to me?!?! I love love lemon in my food. I actually hated lemon up until a year ago when I tried chicken piccata and I have been obsessed ever since. I think you just gave me my dinner idea tonight. Looks so DELICIOUS!
ReplyDeleteDonna, did you survive Haboob II? Yuck!
ReplyDeleteI was just looking at a Giada cookbook last night and saw a lemon spaghetti recipe that intrigued me. Seeing that and your post are signs, I'm sure! Love lemon so will definitely have to give this a try. Maybe if I make my Lemon Meringue for you you'll be a convert. ;-)
Good luck with that, Lynne. Silly girl just doesn't love Lemon Meringue. However, if you make the pie for Donna, I'll happily come and take it off her hands.
ReplyDeleteI love lemon pasta. It makes me incredibly happy. :)
This is perfect for summer! I love the refreshing flavor of lemon!
ReplyDeleteYour spaghetti with lemon looks delicious! My kids and myself love lemons but not my hubby!
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting my blog and for following too! You have a lovely site here. I'm following you too. Will see you again, have a lovely day!
simple and delicious! look forward to learn more italian cooking here too and following you back. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteI know it's not thought of as tyically Italian but, you're right, lemon is essential in Italian cooking. I scrape a bit --just a little bit -- of zest in any ricotta filling, sweet or savory Makes a big difference!
ReplyDeleteGhsoh...This looks too inviting...!! Im a huge fan of Italian recipes...pastas in particular & would love try this lemony version..:)
ReplyDeletePrathima Rao
Prats Corner
This looks and sounds delicious! Even though you included a lot of lemon flavor, it wasn't as much as all the lemon Giada de Laurentiis adds in her fettucine alfredo! Looking forward to trying your recipe. Thanks for commenting on my blog! I've added yours to my Google Reader and look forward to reading your future Italian recipe posts!
ReplyDeleteLove this recipe. I have had something like it. This looks perfect for summer -- so light and lovely. Joni
ReplyDeleteI was just talking to my son about dinner plans.... I said, "How about cold pasta salad?"..... he said, "How about spaghetti?".... I think we found a compromise!!! I will make this tonight and let you know how it goes!! Thanks for the perfect timing!
ReplyDeleteSounds wonderful! I've never had a pasta like this before but I definitely want to try it!
ReplyDeleteI love lemon meringue pie by the way! You remind me it's been a long, long time since I've made it! :)
I cant wait to discover your blog! Everything looks insanely good!
ReplyDeleteA GREAT flavor combination! Wish I had fresh lemons to make this =(
ReplyDeleteCan't go wrong with lemon and garlic in my book. Quick, easy and DELICIOUS :) The best kind of recipe!
ReplyDeleteI love lemon but not a big lemon meringue pie fan either! Maybe I just haven't had a really good one? This pasta looks so light and refreshing!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love lemon and cheese in pasta! it has a way for not making you feel as bad for eating all that cheese! its just so refreshing and hearty at the same time! :) Thanks for following me! Your blog is amazing...following you back!!! :)
ReplyDeleteHopefully this link will take you to a photo of my dinner ! We made your lovely lemon pasta tonight and it was great! http://bit.ly/mT1OEK
ReplyDeleteI love lemon with pasta. I have a similar recipe to this one, but it also calls for shrimp. Delicious!
ReplyDeletelooks great I think i may make it tomorrow
ReplyDeleteso simple, so light and so delicious. The perfect meal for a busy day! I love it
ReplyDeleteThatz one yummy recipe:-)Simple, tangy and delicious..This one is a keeper recipe:-)
ReplyDeleteLove this! Just made it tonight with chicken breast. I want two more bowls...
ReplyDeleteI am so happy to hear that you loved it! Chicken sounds perfect with it too!
ReplyDeleteI love spaghetti since I was a child. My mom always cooks me, my brothers and my sister whenever it's our birthday or other special occasions that needs celebrating. Thanks for sharing this recipe. Now I can cook for my mom.
ReplyDeleteI grew up eating this pasta - I LOVE it!
ReplyDeleteJust made this for dinner with perch and veggies. Amazing!!
ReplyDeleteI'll be making this tonight, with shrimp! :) yummy!!
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