Part of my own personal ‘Iron Chef: Battle Lemons’ series.

Adapted from Giada DeLaurentiis, this can be a main dish but I prefer to use it as a side. The lemons give this pasta a nice fresh flavor. You can use any pasta: spaghetti, cappelini, penne – all grab the sauce for a nice full flavor!

ingredients:
1 (16 oz) package spaghetti
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
pinch of salt
fresh ground pepper
zest of one lemon
1/2 cup pasta water

In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, cheese, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Set aside.

Boil the pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of liquid before you drain it.

lemon-spaghetti

Toss the pasta in with the lemon mixture, then add the zest. Add the reserved pasta water a little at a time, you may not need all of it, you just don’t want the pasta to be dry.

I like this as a side dish to chicken or fish, but it is great on it’s own.

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