Name: Creamy Lemon Pasta With Fried Pine Nuts
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 Big Servings
Cuisine: Italian

Sunday Table

February 19, 2025

Cozy creamy lemon pasta with fried pine nuts and fresh basil is a simple, flavorful meal for summer! Creamy lemon pasta combines bright lemon, rigatoni, pine nuts, and basil for a delicious, summery dinner. Inspired by the traditional Italian dish, pasta al limone, this meal is cozy yet light. Serve on its own with a light side salad or alongside grilled chicken or shrimp for a crowd.

12 Ingredients

MEDIUM

Creamy Lemon Pasta With Fried Pine Nuts cover

From the Cook

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Creamy Lemon Pasta With Fried Pine Nuts

Sunday Table

Ingredients

Big Servings

WarningMilk and 6 other allergens identified

Instructions

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Fried Pine Nuts

In a small pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the pine nuts, and cook, stirring constantly, until toasty. Spoon the pine nuts onto a plate and sprinkle with salt. Set aside.

Creamy Lemon Pasta

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta, stirring frequently, one minute less than al dente according to package directions. Remember to reserve 1 1/2 c. of pasta water before draining!

While pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic, and cook for about 30 seconds, until fragrant. Stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, and cream until emulsified. Let cool over low heat, stirring frequently, until the pasta is finished cooking.

Add 1/2 cup of pasta water to the sauce and stir until smooth and slightly thickened. Toss the drained pasta with the sauce, and add the grated Parmesan in small handfuls until melted and smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add more splashes of pasta water until nice and creamy – I usually end up using about 1 cup total.** Taste, and add salt if necessary.

Divide the pasta between four bowls. Top with the fried pine nuts, basil, more Parmesan, and black pepper. Enjoy!

Smart Nutrition

Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Pine Nut Perfection 🥜
Toast pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium-low heat, constantly stirring to prevent burning and develop a rich, nutty flavor.
Pasta Water Magic 💧
Reserve at least 1 cup of pasta water before draining - the starchy liquid is crucial for creating a silky, emulsified sauce that clings perfectly to the pasta.
Zest Before Juicing 🍋
Always zest your lemon before juicing to maximize flavor extraction and ensure you capture the bright, aromatic oils from the lemon peel.
Cream Sauce Technique 🥄
When combining cream and lemon, add the lemon juice gradually and off the heat to prevent the cream from potentially curdling.
Basil Bloom Trick 🌿
Tear fresh basil leaves instead of chopping to release more aromatic oils and prevent bruising, adding them just before serving for maximum flavor and vibrant color.

Intelligent Tags

About the Cook

Sunday Table

I’m Sara, the creator behind Sunday Table, sharing cozy, modern small bites and mini desserts made for entertaining. Trained in baking and culinary arts, I’ve been creating elevated, crowd-pleasing recipes since 2012 (with lots of coffee). ☕️