Description
A quick and flavorful Lemon Caper Pasta recipe perfect for a light yet vibrant meal. This dish combines the zing of fresh lemon, briny capers, and fragrant garlic, all tossed with tender pasta in a luscious butter sauce. Ready in just 15 minutes, it’s an ideal option for busy weeknights or a refreshing lunch.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 14 oz pasta (such as spaghetti or linguine)
Sauce
- 1/4 cup butter
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 4 tbsp capers
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Before draining, reserve a few tablespoons of the pasta cooking water.
- Melt the Butter: While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat and melt the butter until it begins to bubble gently.
- Sauté the Garlic: Add the crushed garlic cloves to the melted butter and fry for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the garlic is fragrant but not browned to avoid bitterness.
- Add Flavorings: Stir in the capers, lemon zest, lemon juice, finely chopped parsley, red pepper flakes, and black pepper into the skillet. Cook for another minute to meld the flavors.
- Toss Pasta in Sauce: Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss thoroughly to coat all the strands in the lemon butter sauce. If the mixture looks dry, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it and create a silky texture.
Notes
- You can use any long pasta such as spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine for this recipe.
- Reserving pasta water is crucial as the starchy water helps bind the sauce to the pasta perfectly.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to your spice preference or omit if you want a milder dish.
- Fresh lemon juice is best, but bottled lemon juice can be used in a pinch.
- This recipe serves 2 but can be easily doubled for more servings.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
