Light Lemon Basil Pasta

Submitted by sofie-a-toast

"This pasta is delicious but has a light, mild flavor. Best served as a side with fish or chicken."

 

• Ready In: 40mins
• Ingredients: 11
• Serves: 4-6

ingredients

• 1 lb angel hair pasta
• 1⁄2 onion
• 4 garlic cloves
• 20 basil leaves
• 3⁄4 cup fresh parmesan cheese
• 2 (14 1/2 ounce) cans chicken broth or (14 1/2 ounce) cans vegetable broth
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• fresh pepper
• 3⁄4 cup white wine
• 1 lemon

directions

1. First, finely chop about half a large onion and mince or press about four large cloves of garlic (organic, of course).
2. Second, take about a handful of organic basil (I hate to admit I don't wash this because it is harder to mince) and then finely chop the basil.
3. Third, shred about half to three-quarters cup of parmesan reggiano.
4. Fourth, start a pot of boiling salted water.
5. Open two cans of chicken broth (I like Ralphs because it is less sodium than Stater Bros.).
6. Place about one large heaping tablespoon of cornstarch in a short water glass or coffee cup.
7. Saute onion only over medium heat in about 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add about three or four shakes of ground white pepper (maybe a bit more if you like it spicy). After about two minutes of saute process, add garlic and continue to stir and heat for another one minute. This brings out flavor of garlic. Then add about 3/4 cup of white wine and raise heat to "high" to deglaze the pan. Boil to reduce the liquid until it is nearly gone.
8. Add one can of chicken stock, keeping heat at high. Stir the pan to make sure that all accumulated flavor on side of pan is combined with liquid. Boil this down by about half. Then add most of the second can and boil down again by about 1/3.
9. While the sauce is finishing, add pasta to boiling water.
10. Using the balance of the unused can of chicken stock, slowly pour into the glass of cornstarch stirring to blend the powder into a paste and then add more stock to make it a thick cornstarch liquid. Add this liquid slowly to the sauce, stirring in to incorporate about 15 seconds after pouring. Continue to heat on medium heat until sauce has thickened slightly (won't be much thicker than a heavy liquid) - this won't take much more than 45 seconds. Turn off heat. Add juice from about 1 lemon, more or less if desired. Stir to blend lemon. Set aside.
11. Drain pasta. Place in bowls. Add basil to each bowl of dry pasta. Mix. Add a bit of sauce. Mix. Then add a bit of cheese. Mix. Add more sauce and cheese and fresh ground black pepper on top.

Reviews

[Nif_H]

Half of the family likes lemon and half doesn't so it was easy to add it at the end if you wanted it. I made this as directed and it was delicious! The parmesan and fresh basil were a great touch that you can add to any pasta dish. Made for my adopted chef for PAC 2011. Thanks sofie-a-toast! :)

 

[Lori Mama]

Nice pasta dish. Since lemons are very pricey here in my Canadian neck of the woods, I added the rind as well as the juice. It boosted the lemon flavour much more. Served it as a main along with a tomato salad. Made for Everyday Holiday Tag Game. :)