Lemon Pine Nut Pasta
"This recipe was handed down to me by a friend I met years ago. She was born and lived in Italy for 20 years before moving to the states; and this was Mom's favorite recipe. Now, I updated with whole wheat pasta, but that is just something I enjoy. Apparently, this pasta dish was a very common side dish to many Italian dishes in their region. It is extremely light but so full of flavor, and definitely not very much too it. It is literally made in minutes."
- Ready In:
- 25mins
- Ingredients:
- 9
- Serves:
-
4-6
ingredients
- 12 ounces whole wheat pasta (Spaghetti is what the original recipe called for, but I would think you could use something similar)
- 2⁄3 cup pine nuts, toasted and chopped
- 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated (no green can, and make sure to use grated, no shredded in the package)
- 3 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 1⁄4 cup olive oil
- 2 lemons (zested and juiced)
- 1⁄4 cup fresh parsley, fine chopped
- salt
- pepper
directions
- Nuts -- First, toast the pine nuts. In a small dry skillet over medium heat, toast the pine nuts until slightly brown and you can smell the aroma. The heat just brings out their flavor. Set to the side and rough chop.
- Pasta -- Cook the pasta according to package directions in salted water. Once the pasta is tender, (reserving 2 cups of the pasta water) and just keep warm in the strainer you make the sauce. NOTE: Whole wheat makes all the difference in this dish.
- Garlic -- In the pot you cooked the pasta in, return to the heat and add the olive oil and bring to medium heat. Add in the garlic and cook for one minute to lightly toast.
- Finishing -- Return the pasta to the pot with the garlic and oil and add the lemon juice, zest, parmesan, pine nuts, parsley, salt (go lightly, the parmesan is salty), pepper and 1 cup of the pasta water and toss until everything is well combined. You may need a bit more water until it is the consistency you like.
- That's it. You can garnish with extra parmesan or parsley if you want, but I don't think it is necessary. ENJOY.
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Reviews
-
This is a great recipe. It comes together very quickly and is packed with flavor. I love that it uses very simple ingredients, items that are always in my pantry, so it's a great last minute type of dish. It has a good strong lemon flavor, which I love, and I only used juice from one and a half lemons (albeit very juicy lemons). I am also a huge fan of pine nuts, parsley, and parmesan and this recipe has just the right amount of each. I served the pasta with some breaded chicken (I added the juice from the other half of my lemon to the egg wash to give the chicken a lemon flavor, too). I thought this pasta was delicious and my daughter thought it was delicious. My husband ate it without complaint, so, that's a win.
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
SarasotaCook
Sarasota, Florida
<p>Growing up in Michigan, I spent my summers at my cottage in the Northern part up by Traverscity. On a lake, big garden which had all the vegetables you could imagine. My mom taught school, so summers were our vacation time. Gramps and I fished all the time so fresh fish was always on the menu, perch, blue gill, walleye and small and large mouth bass. At age 5 I learned how to clean my own fish and by 10 I was making dinner, canning vegetables and fruits, making pies and fresh breads. Apples fresh picked every fall, strawberries in June and July, Cherries at the Cherry Festival in Traverscity. So fresh foods always were a big part. Mom worked as a teacher during the year so dinner was more traditional with pot roasts, meatloaf, etc, but it seemed we always had fresh fruits and vegetables as part of the meal. Mom also didn't use as many spices as I do, but times were different back then. <br /> <br />So ... My motto is ... There is NO Right and NO Wrong with cooking. So many people thing they have to follow a recipe. But NO ... a recipe is a method and directions to help and teach someone. Cooking is about personal tastes and flavors. I love garlic ... and another person may not. I like heat ... but you may not. Recipes are building blocks, NOT text ground in stone. Use them to make and build on. Even my recipes I don't follow most times --They are a base. That is what cooking is to me. A base of layer upon layer of flavors. <br /> <br />I still dislike using canned soups or packaged gravies/seasoning ... but I admit, I do use them. I have a few recipes that use them. But I try to strive to teach people to use fresh ingredients, they are first ... so much healthier for you ... and second, in the end less expensive. But we all have our moments including me. <br /> <br />So, lets see ... In the past, I have worked as a hostess, bartender, waitress, then a short order cook, salad girl in the kitchen, sort of assistant chef, head chef, co owner of a restaurant ... now a consultant to a catering company/restaurant, I cater myself and I'm a personal chef for a elderly lady. I work doing data entry during the day, and now and then try to have fun which is not very often due to my job(s). <br /> <br />I have a 21 year old who at times is going on 12, aren't they all. Was married and now single and just trying to enjoy life one day at a time. I'm writing a cookbook ... name is still in the works but it is dedicated to those people who never learned, to cook. Single Moms, Dads, or Just Busy Parents. Those individuals that think you can't make a great dinner for not a lot of money. You can entertain on a budget and I want people to know that gourmet tasting food doesn't have to be from a can of soup or a box, and healthy food doesn't come from a drive through. There are some really good meals that people can make which are healthy and will save money but taste amazing. So I guess that is my current goal. We all take short cuts and I have no problem with that - I do it too. I volunteer and make food for the homeless every couple of months, donating my time and money. I usually make soup for them and many times get donations from a local grocery stores, Sams Club, Walmart etc, with broth, and vegetables. It makes my cost very little and well worth every minute I spend. Like anyone, life is always trying to figure things out and do the best we can and have fun some how along the way.</p>
