The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
LEMON-AND-GARLIC SPAGHETTI
Pasta is one of the easiest go-to’s in the pantry. Always have it on hand for simple suppers like this one, where lemon and garlic add brightness and flavor. Want more oomph? Add canned tuna (with oil makes it even better). Or shrimp. Throw in some pepperoncini and black olives with a bit of thyme, oregano and rosemary. In summer when tomatoes are at the peak, chop some and serve the pasta chilled with sea salt. Loosen the pasta with peanut oil instead of olive oil and add chopped peanuts, scallions and cilantro. Italians will argue that the type of pasta makes a difference, but feel free to use whatever dried pasta you have on hand. ⅔ cup olive oil, divided
4 cloves garlic, chopped
⅔ cup freshly grated Parmesan
cheese
½ cup fresh lemon juice (from
about 2 lemons)
Sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper 1 pound dried spaghetti 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary,
minced
1 tablespoon fresh oregano, minced 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
(from about 2 lemons) In a small sauté pan, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil on high heat until the pan is hot. Reduce the heat to medium and sauté the garlic until fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a large bowl, mix the remaining oil, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, salt and freshly ground pepper. Add the garlic and blend. Cover the mixture and refrigerate for up to 8 hours.
To serve, bring a six-quart pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the spaghetti, stir and cook until tender (brands may differ in cooking times – most pasta is al dente somewhere between 8 and 11 minutes). Drain, reserving about 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
Toss the pasta with the lemon-and garlic mixture and add the rosemary, oregano and lemon zest. Toss all with a little of the reserved cooking liquid, just enough to moisten. Serve immediately, or reserve and serve chilled. Serves: 4 to 6.
Per serving, based on 4: 814 calories (percent of calories from fat, 46), 20 grams protein, 89 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 42 grams fat (8 grams saturated), 10 milligrams cholesterol, 257 milligrams sodium.