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a single serving of pasta al limone topped with fresh parmesan cheese.
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5 from 9 votes

Pasta al Limone For One

This single serving pasta al limone is a bright lemon pasta made with spaghetti, butter, Parmesan, garlic, and fresh lemon, ready in about 15 minutes.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Main Dish, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Italian
Diet: Vegetarian
Keyword: lemon pasta, lemon sauce, pasta, pasta al limone, spaghetti
Servings: 1 serving
Author: Joanie Zisk

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces dry spaghetti -2 ⅛ inches (circumference) and yields 1 cup of cooked spaghetti.
  • 1 ½ tablespoons salted butter
  • ½ teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 clove garlic -minced
  • ½ tablespoon lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons shredded or grated Parmesan cheese -divided
US - Metric

Instructions

  • Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta water, then drain.
  • Melt the butter in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the lemon zest and garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
    Stir in the lemon juice.
  • Add the cooked spaghetti to the skillet. Pour in 2 tablespoons of the reserved pasta water and add 2 tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese.
    Toss until the pasta is coated and the sauce thickens.
  • Remove from heat. Taste and add a pinch of salt if needed. Add more pasta water if the sauce looks dry.
    Transfer to a bowl and finish with extra Parmesan and fresh basil or parsley, if using.

Notes

  • Have everything ready before you start. Pasta al limone cooks quickly, so measure your ingredients and read through the recipe first to avoid rushing.
  • Salt the pasta water well. Use 3/4 to 1 teaspoon of salt for every 4 cups of water. Properly seasoned pasta makes a noticeable difference in the finished dish, especially in simple lemon pasta recipes.
  • Reserve the pasta water. The starchy cooking water helps loosen the sauce, adds flavor, and helps the lemon butter sauce cling to the pasta. Add it a little at a time until the sauce looks glossy and coats the noodles.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 430kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 56mg | Sodium: 394mg | Potassium: 167mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 526IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 0.1mg

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