Recipe: Pasta with Fresh Herbs and Lemon

Warning: Content may not be suitable for those following a low carb diet.

Currently, my favorite meal - one I've fixed six times or so in the last three weeks - is a simple pasta with fresh herbs, olive oil and lemon juice. I first made it for Mr. Food Musings on Valentine's Day in a slightly more involved form including chorizo sausage and fresh mussels (thank you, Gourmet cookbook!)

I had such a profusion of leftover herbs - Italian parsley and cilantro - that I decided to make an abbreviated version for myself for lunch one day. Since then, I've substituted basil and mint for cilantro with equally good results. If I'm being good, I'll steam some green beans or roast a few asparagus spears and eat those with my fingers alongside. If I'm being bad, I'll just serve myself enough pasta to sink a ship and dig in.

Pasta with Fresh Herbs and Lemon
Yield: 1 serving (if you're hungry)

1/4 pasta, cooked according to package directions (linguine, penne, anythings works)
1 TBSP olive oil
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
3 TBSP freshly grated Parmesan cheese
juice from 1/2 a lemon
1/2 cup fresh herbs (basil, cilantro, mint, parsley, whatever mix you like. I prefer 2 parts basil or cilantro to 1 part Italian parsley)
salt and pepper to taste

1. In a non-stick sauce pan, heat oil and garlic over moderate heat until garlic is slightly golden, 2-3 minutes.
2. Add cooked and drained pasta to sauce pan, stirring to combine.
3. Add Parmesan cheese (first, to coat the strands of pasta) followed by lemon juice, herbs, and salt and pepper to taste.

What could be easier?

Comments

[sara]

I just made this for dinner tonight, and i don't know that i've ever quite been tempted before, upon finishing a meal, to go back in the kitchen and make it all over again. i did refrain, but i think this is going to be one of my new mainstays. i used fresh basil and parsley. i can't wait till summer, and i just got a great sauvingon blanc to go with it, too! now, if only it would stop snowing outside...

[mika]

This sounds delicious. I am planning to try this one.

[little sister]

Made this again, this time with mint and cilantro together, and it was wonderful-the mint offset the heat of the cilantro perfectly!

[julie]

I made this dish for dinner tonight -- turned out excellent. I sauteed some minced garlic with the olive oil before adding the noodles -- the cilantro and italian parsley were the perfect combo! Fresh grated parmesan with some lemon slices just topped of the dish. I highly recommend this to anyone and everyone! :D