Lemon Cream Sauce

A bowl of lemon pasta garnished with zest, set on a blue and white patterned cloth.

5 from 1 vote

This quick lemon cream sauce, made with cream, fresh lemon juice and a touch of butter, coats spaghetti beautifully for a bright, silky bowl of pasta that comes together in minutes. Just toss and serve.

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Total Time20

Course: Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: lemon cream sauce, lemon cream sauce for pasta, lemon cream sauce recipe

Servings: - 3 servings

Ingredients

250 grams spaghetti
2 tbsp butter
2 garlic cloves minced
1¼ cup heavy cream 33%
1 cup parmigiano reggiano finely grated + more to finish
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp fresh lemon zest
fresh basil to garnish optional

Instructions

Prepare the pasta: in a large pot of salted water, prepare the pasta according to the package directions.
Prior to draining the pasta, reserve a 1/2 cup of pasta water.
Next, drain and return back to the pot.
Sammy's tip: toss the pasta with a generous drizzle of olive oil to prevent the pasta from sticking.
Prepare the sauce: while the pasta is cooking, grab a large deep pan, add the butter, set to low heat and allow it to melt.
Next, add the garlic and let sauté on low heat for 1-2 minutes, just until fragrant.
Next, add the heavy cream and bring to a light simmer for 2-3 minutes, just until sightly thickened.
Slowly add the cheese and let simmer until the sauce has thickened, mixing often.
If the sauce feels too thin, sprinkle in 2-3 tablespoons of grated Parmesan a little at a time, stirring until it thickens to your liking.
Taste to see if it needs any salt. Depending on how salty the cheese is, you may not need to add any.
Add the pasta: remove the sauce from the heat and add the pasta, lemon juice and lemon zest.
Add a quarter cup of the reserved pasta water and toss well to emulsify it into the sauce. Then, if it still needs loosening, add more a tablespoon at a time until it reaches your ideal consistency.
Gently toss to combine.
Garnish with fresh basil, if desired and enjoy right away.

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