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Spaghettini with Garlic and Lemon

Spaghettini with Garlic and Lemon
Photo by Romulo Yanes
  • Active Time

    15 min

  • Total Time

    25 min

Ingredients

Makes 4 main-course or 6 to 8 side-dish servings

1 lb spaghettini or capellini
4 large garlic cloves, minced
1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Finely grated zest from 2 lemons
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  1. Step 1

    Cook pasta in a 6-quart pot ofboiling salted wateruntil al dente. Reserve 1 cup cooking water and drain pasta in a colander.

    Step 2

    While pasta is boiling, cook garlic and red pepper flakes (to taste) in oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until garlic is golden, about 5 minutes. Stir in zest, then juice, salt, pepper, and 1/2 cup reserved cooking water and bring to a simmer.

    Step 3

    Toss pasta in sauce with parsley. (Add more cooking water if pasta seems dry.)

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Reviews (79)

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  • Easy to prepare with explosive flavor. Excellent!

    • Anonymous

    • Nampa, ID

    • 9/13/2023

  • It looks perfect for a thanksgiving dinner or special birthday dinner. For pasta lovers like me, is perfect. One iconic food of the cooking I’m beginner thanks for the recipes

    • Anonymous

    • La Havana

    • 11/13/2022

  • Damn good! I made the chicken in foil with mushrooms, garlic and sun dried tomatoes the night b4. Then made this sauce, perfect.

    • smfite1

    • Harrisburg, PA

    • 5/24/2017

  • Excellent Weeknight Quick Dinner --> Wonderful burst of flavor and the red pepper flakes give it a pop....the kids love it.

    • ameliaydani

    • Riverside, Ca

    • 11/24/2015

  • This was disappointing. Way too much lemon. I wanted a recipe with these flavors but will keep looking for a better option.

    • Six43

    • 12/27/2014

  • This was delicious with a serious kick from the red pepper flakes. We used fresh pasta and added cherry tomatoes, which were a nice sweet/tart counterbalance to the spiciness.

    • Anonymous

    • Philadelphia, PA

    • 5/22/2011

  • This was nice (with grilled shrimp and broccolini which I sauteed in the sauce), but reminded me so much of spaghettini with clams that I was kicking myself for not adding clam juice to give it an extra zing. I'll make it again doing just that.

    • Anonymous

    • los angeles, ca

    • 8/15/2007

  • simple, exceptionally easy, and delicious. wonderful after a long day at work when time is tight. fresh ingredients (no bottled lemon juice or dried parsley!) are the key to this. drained white beans added at the end add extra fiber.

    • Anonymous

    • amherst, ma

    • 6/11/2007

  • This is one of my favourite meals for a busy day-- it's quick, easy, and I almost always have the necessary ingredients. I tend to add another tablespoon of lemon juice and another two or three garlic cloves.

    • Anonymous

    • Casper, Wyoming

    • 4/17/2007

  • My family really enjoys this pasta. To make it more kid friendly, I skip the red pepper and it is still good. I do add more garlic than called for....more like 6 large cloves.

    • Anonymous

    • Alexandria, VA

    • 2/17/2007

  • I thought this was a wonderful side dish. For those that think it is too bland you might want to serve it with a main entree that is very flavorful. I made it with Parmesan Chicken and the whole meal was ready in 15 minutes so it is my new "too tired to cook after a hard day at the office" meal.

    • stevie507

    • San Dimas, CA

    • 2/25/2006

  • I would make this again, but with modifications. It was a light and refreshing pasta dish - but lacked flavor. Our kids ate it. We added parmesan cheese which helped. Next time I will consider adding feta, spinach and maybe some canellini beans.

    • creampuff67

    • Buffalo NY

    • 11/24/2005

  • it was alright, not great. i thought it was a little bland and i must have gone nuts with the pepper flakes because it was SPICY! my mouth was numb! i don't think i'll make this one anymore.

    • Anonymous

    • Los Angeles, CA

    • 10/25/2005

  • This was alright, not incredible. Very lemony. I reduced the oil by a lot though so maybe that was my problem.

    • Anonymous

    • Ann Arbor, MI

    • 10/12/2005

  • Perfect comfort food. This is now in my list of emergency dinners par excellence! It's almost even better cold the next day, so make plenty.

    • Sarah

    • New York

    • 8/22/2005

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