Description
This creamy roast garlic and lemon pasta is a comforting and flavorful dish perfect for cozy evenings. Featuring a luscious sauce made from heavy cream, roasted garlic, fresh lemon juice and zest, and Parmesan cheese, this pasta blends rich and tangy flavors for a delightful meal. The dish is easy to prepare in under 40 minutes, ideal for a satisfying dinner that feels indulgent yet simple.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Ingredients
- 1 cup Heavy Cream (Can substitute with half-and-half for a lighter option)
- 1 bulb Roasted Garlic (For a sharper taste, use raw garlic but adjust the quantity)
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil (Can substitute with butter for a richer flavor)
- 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice (Freshly squeezed is best)
- 1 tablespoon Lemon Zest (Ensure zest is from unwaxed lemons)
- to taste Salt (Adjust to taste or use sea salt)
- to taste Black Pepper (Fresh cracked is recommended)
- ½ cup Grated Parmesan Cheese (Consider Grana Padano or Pecorino Romano as substitutes)
- to taste Fresh Parsley (Can substitute with basil)
Main Ingredient
- 8 ounces Pasta (Any type according to your preference)
Instructions
- Prepare the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve about ½ cup of pasta cooking water before draining.
- Make the Roast Garlic Base: While the pasta cooks, squeeze the roasted garlic cloves out of their skins into a bowl and mash into a paste using a fork. If using raw garlic, mince finely.
- Cook the Garlic and Cream: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the roasted garlic paste and gently warm it for 1-2 minutes to release flavor. Pour in the heavy cream and stir to combine. Let simmer for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Add Lemon and Cheese: Stir in the lemon juice, lemon zest, and grated Parmesan cheese into the cream sauce. Mix well until the cheese melts and the sauce is creamy. Adjust seasoning with salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce and toss gently to coat. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it up and achieve desired consistency.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from heat, sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the pasta, and serve immediately while warm and creamy for the best flavor and comfort.
Notes
- Roasting garlic mellows its flavor and adds sweetness; raw garlic will produce a sharper taste.
- Substitute half-and-half for heavy cream to reduce fat content with minimal change to creaminess.
- Use unwaxed lemons for zest to avoid bitterness from the wax coating.
- Reserve pasta water to tighten or loosen sauce consistency as needed.
- Consider adding red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
- Fresh parsley can be substituted with fresh basil for a different herbaceous note.
