Spaghetti al Limone
This creamy yet bright lemon pasta, from the cookbook author Marlena Spieler, is simple, elegant and destined to become one of your favorite weeknight dishes. First, combine white wine with the zest of a lemon and reduce until syrupy. Add a generous amount of cream and allow to simmer until it thickens slightly. Toss the pasta with the sauce, a bit of pasta water and Parmesan cheese and stir to coat, adding pasta water if the sauce isn't coming together. Top with extra Parm if you so desire (we always do). If you need a bit more heft, consider topping the noodles with sautéed fish, shrimp or chicken.
- Total:
- Serves: 4 persons
Ingredients
- 1lemon
- 1 ½cups dry white wine
- ¾to 1½ cups heavy cream, to taste
- 1pound spaghetti
- 3tablespoons butter, in pieces
- 3 ½to 4 ounces Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1to 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, to taste
- Sea salt and fresh black pepper, to taste.
Instructions
Step 1
Zest lemon and slice zest into matchsticks. Juice lemon, strain and reserve. Place zest in large nonreactive pan with wine and bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium high and cook until it reduces to a syrupy mixture, about 1/4 cup, about 10 minutes.Step 2
Remove from heat and pour in about 1/4 cup of cream. Stir, then pour in remaining cream. Return to stove and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until it is thickened and reduced slightly, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.Step 3
Meanwhile, bring large pot of generously salted water to boil. Cook pasta until al dente; reserve 1/2 cup cooking water and drain.Step 4
Return hot pasta pot to stove. Pour in cream, butter and lemon juice, stir, then add hot drained pasta and a few tablespoons of cooking water. Toss together and add cheese in three or four parts, tossing each to meld with sauce. Add more cooking water if sauce is too thick and crumbly.Step 5
Ladle onto plates and drizzle each portion with olive oil, then add a little salt and pepper.