Lemon Pasta with Tomatoes and Basil
A simple and light pasta dish, perfect for a summer weeknight meal!
Ingredients
- 1 dry pint cherry or grape tomatoes , halved (about 350 grams)
- ½ packed cup fresh basil , chopped (20 grams)
- ⅓ cup + 1 tablespoon olive oil , divided (80 ml)
- 1 teaspoon salt , plus more to taste
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper , plus more to taste
- 1 lb linguine, spaghetti or fettuccine pasta (455 grams)
- 2 lemons , zest and juice
- ⅓ cup heavy cream (80 grams)
- 1 cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese (100 grams)
Instructions
- In a bowl, toss halved tomatoes and chopped basil with 1 tablespoon olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Set aside to marinate while you prepare the pasta and sauce.
- Add pasta to a large deep saucepan, cover with cold water, and add a generous pinch of salt. Set over high heat and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Cook pasta until noodles are al dente, about 7-9 minutes.
- Meanwhile, while pasta is boiling, get all of the sauce ingredients ready to go, zesting and juicing lemons, etc.
- When pasta is done, reserve ½ cup of pasta water and drain the noodles in a colander.
- Working quickly while noodles are in the colander, add the lemon juice and zest, olive oil, heavy cream, and salt and pepper to the now empty pasta pot. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Simmer for 1-2 minutes until slightly thickened, stirring often.
- Add the drained pasta back to the pot along with the parmesan cheese and stir until coated. Add enough pasta water to make a loose sauce. Adjust seasonings as needed.
- Stir in half of the marinated tomatoes to the pasta, and add rest of tomatoes to the top. Serve immediately.
Notes
A wide, deep skillet is ideal for this pasta dish. You can break pasta if needed to fit into the pot, or use a deeper pot it you prefer.
To reheat pasta leftovers, add pasta to pot or skillet and place over medium low heat. Add a little water if needed, and toss pasta until warm and sauce is smooth.
Recipe adapted from Smitten Kitchen.
Calories: 532kcal, Carbohydrates: 61g, Protein: 18g, Fat: 25g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 93mg, Sodium: 680mg, Potassium: 444mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 1107IU, Vitamin C: 30mg, Calcium: 253mg, Iron: 2mg
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