Spaghetti Limone Parmeggiano

Hi guys!

Meat free monday time and I decided to get summer, or spring maybe, on my plate even though it is grey outside and probably going to rain sometime today. Today's recipe comes from Gwyneth Paltrow's "Notes from my Kitchen Table" and I have had an eye on it for a while. I remember trying it a first time right when the book was published and I wasn't so convinced back then, but after giving it another shot, I am in lemon pasta heaven so there was no way not sharing it with you.

Here's the recipe:

350g (12.3oz) spaghetti
salt
1 lemon
100g (3.5 oz) parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper  
2 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3-5 tablespoons of pasta water, to thin
Handful fresh basil leaves, to serve

1) Boil the spaghetti in salted boiling water, according to packet directions. 

2) Meanwhile, using a grater, grate the zest from the lemon into a bowl. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice into the bowl. 

3) Grate the parmesan, add it to the bowl along with pepper and a pinch of salt and mix in the olive oil to form a wet paste.

4) When the spaghetti is perfectly cooked, add 2 or 3 tablespoons of the cooking water to the lemon and cheese mixture. Add the spaghetti to the bowl and toss thoroughly, adding another tablespoon or 2 of pasta water if necessary so that the sauce coats each strand. Roughly tear the basil leaves.

5) Serve each portion with a sprinkle of coarse salt, a grind of black pepper and a few grating of extra Parmesan. 

Serves: 4
Active preparation time: 5 minutes
Total preparation time: about 15 minutes
© Copyright: Gwyneth Paltrow, "Notes from my Kitchen Table", p. 128.

Here's how mine looks:

It might not be the most interesting dish with regards to the colour, although when you get close enough, you can see hints of bright yellow from the lemon zest, the black pepper of course and white grated parmesan cheese. I love this recipe, because you can assemble the sauce in the time it takes for the pasta to cook and even though it is basically no work, you are rewarded with lots of summery flavour. The lemon adds a really nice sourness and freshness, pepper makes it a little fiery and the parmesan adds creaminess and saltiness. So if you are sitting in the rain and want to get sunshine on your plate, this could be your new go-to recipe. Or if you are sitting in the plain sun enjoying lunch or dinner on the terrace. 

Anyways, have fun trying and have a good week!