Buttered Parmesan Noodles
Buttered Parmesan Noodles with shallot, garlic, lemon, and a glossy Parmesan sauce. The easiest, most comforting weeknight pasta ready in just 20 minutes.
Servings: 4 people
Ingredients
- 1 lb shell pasta
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 shallot finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste
- 1 lemon zested and juiced
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve about ½ cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, melt the butter and olive oil together in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shallot and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and fragrant, about 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
- Add the hot drained pasta directly to the skillet. Sprinkle in the Parmesan and add the reserved pasta water in small splashes. Toss continuously until the sauce is glossy, smooth, and coats every noodle evenly. Add more pasta water as needed to reach your desired consistency.
- Taste and adjust salt as needed. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan grated generously on top.
Notes
- Salt your pasta water generously. It should taste like the sea - this is your first layer of seasoning.
- Reserve pasta water before draining. That starchy water is key to creating a glossy, emulsified sauce.
- Add pasta directly to the skillet. Hot pasta helps melt the cheese and bind the sauce.
- Toss continuously. Keeps the sauce smooth and prevents clumping.
- Add cheese gradually. Prevents it from seizing or becoming grainy.
- Control the heat. Too high and the cheese can break; keep it at medium or lower when adding parmesan.
- Finish with lemon at the right time. Adding zest and juice early infuses flavor; a little extra at the end brightens everything.
- Serve immediately. This sauce is at its best right off the stove.
Nutrition
Calories: 653kcal | Carbohydrates: 92g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 737mg | Potassium: 365mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 398IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 259mg | Iron: 2mg