This easy and creamy lemon pasta by Jamie Oliver is a quick and delicious meal, perfect for busy nights. With just a few simple ingredients like fresh basil, Parmesan, and zesty lemons, it’s a flexible dish that’s both light and flavorful. You can easily adjust the recipe to suit your taste!
Ingredients Needed
- 500g (1 lb) dried linguine
- 3 Sicilian lemons (or regular lemons if unavailable)
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 125g (1 ¼ cups) Parmesan cheese
- 1 bunch (30g / 1 oz) of fresh basil
- 1 handful of rocket (arugula)
How To Make Lemon Pasta
- Cook the pasta: Cook the linguine in a pan of boiling salted water according to the packet instructions. Drain and return the pasta to the pan.
- Prepare the lemon sauce: Finely grate the zest from 1 lemon into a bowl, then squeeze in the juice from all 3 lemons. Drizzle in 6 tablespoons of olive oil (about 90ml / 6 tbsp), and finely grate the Parmesan. Whisk together until it becomes thick and creamy.
- Season the sauce: Season the lemon sauce with sea salt, black pepper, and extra lemon juice if needed.
- Add fresh basil: Pick and finely chop the basil leaves, then stir them into the sauce.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the lemony sauce to the cooked linguine and shake the pan to coat every strand of pasta. The Parmesan will melt into the pasta.
- Finish with rocket: Stir through the chopped basil and rocket (arugula) just before serving.
Recipe Tips
- Use freshly grated Parmesan: It melts better and gives the pasta a creamier texture compared to pre-grated cheese.
- Don’t overcook the pasta: Make sure the linguine is al dente (firm to the bite) for the best texture.
- Reserve some pasta water: Save a little of the cooking water before draining to add to the sauce for extra creaminess.
- Adjust the lemon to taste: Some lemons are more tart than others, so taste the sauce and add more lemon juice if needed to get the right balance.
How To Store Leftovers?
Let the leftover lemon pasta cool to room temperature, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 235g)
- Calories: 467
- Total Fat: 17.8g
- Saturated Fat: 5.6g
- Total Carbohydrate: 56.7g
- Sugars: 3.1g
- Protein: 18.6g
Try More Jamie Oliver Recipes:
- Jamie Oliver Mediterranean-Style Herring Pasta
- Jamie Oliver Simple Summer Pasta
- Jamie Oliver Pasta Vongole
- Jamie Oliver Squash And Ricotta Pasta Bake
Jamie Oliver Lemon Pasta
Description
This easy and creamy lemon pasta by Jamie Oliver is a quick and delicious meal, perfect for busy nights. With just a few simple ingredients like fresh basil, Parmesan, and zesty lemons, it’s a flexible dish that’s both light and flavorful. You can easily adjust the recipe to suit your taste!
Ingredients
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Cook the linguine in a pan of boiling salted water according to the packet instructions. Drain and return the pasta to the pan.
- Prepare the lemon sauce: Finely grate the zest from 1 lemon into a bowl, then squeeze in the juice from all 3 lemons. Drizzle in 6 tablespoons of olive oil (about 90ml / 6 tbsp), and finely grate the Parmesan. Whisk together until it becomes thick and creamy.
- Season the sauce: Season the lemon sauce with sea salt, black pepper, and extra lemon juice if needed.
- Add fresh basil: Pick and finely chop the basil leaves, then stir them into the sauce.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the lemony sauce to the cooked linguine and shake the pan to coat every strand of pasta. The Parmesan will melt into the pasta.
- Finish with rocket: Stir through the chopped basil and rocket (arugula) just before serving.
Notes
- Use freshly grated Parmesan: It melts better and gives the pasta a creamier texture compared to pre-grated cheese.
- Don’t overcook the pasta: Make sure the linguine is al dente (firm to the bite) for the best texture.
- Reserve some pasta water: Save a little of the cooking water before draining to add to the sauce for extra creaminess.
- Adjust the lemon to taste: Some lemons are more tart than others, so taste the sauce and add more lemon juice if needed to get the right balance.
Jamie Oliver Lemon Pasta