Spring Pasta Limone (Print Version)

Silky lemon-butter pasta with parmesan and fresh basil, bright and zesty, ready in 15 minutes.

# Ingredient List:

→ Pasta

01 - 200 g dried spaghetti or linguine

→ Sauce

02 - 40 g unsalted butter
03 - 1 large lemon (zested and juiced)
04 - 60 ml (¼ cup) pasta cooking water
05 - 60 g parmesan cheese, finely grated
06 - ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
07 - Salt, to taste

→ To Finish

08 - 1 small bunch fresh basil leaves, torn
09 - Extra parmesan, for serving
10 - Lemon zest, for garnish (optional)

# Recipe Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ¼ cup (60 ml) of the cooking water, then drain the pasta.
02 - While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the lemon zest and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the butter and toss to coat. Pour in the lemon juice and reserved pasta water.
04 - Sprinkle in the grated parmesan and black pepper. Toss vigorously over low heat until the sauce becomes creamy and clings to the pasta. Adjust seasoning with salt if needed.
05 - Remove from heat. Add the torn basil leaves and toss gently.
06 - Serve immediately, garnished with extra parmesan and lemon zest if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It’s quick enough for a lazy weeknight yet feels utterly special with minimal effort.
  • The sauce is creamy and bright but magically requires no cream—just the gentle coaxing of pasta water, butter, and plenty of lemon.
02 -
  • Never skip saving some pasta water—without it, the sauce refuses to come together smoothly.
  • The day I first used freshly grated parmesan instead of the pre-shredded stuff, the transformation was incredible—meltier, silkier, almost restaurant quality.
03 -
  • Warm your serving bowls so the sauce doesn’t tighten up when plating—it helps keep each bite silky.
  • Always zest your lemon before juicing—it’s almost impossible the other way around (learned that the sticky way).
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