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Zesty Pasta Recipes That Will Ignite Your Taste Buds - Featured Image

Zesty Pasta Recipes That Will Ignite Your Taste Buds

Learn how to make delicious Zesty Pasta. Easy recipe with step-by-step instructions.

  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale

  • 12 ounces spaghetti or your favorite pasta
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
  • 1 lemon, zested and juiced
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Optional: 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (for a little sweetness and color)
  • Optional substitution: Use gluten-free pasta to make this recipe gluten-free
  • Optional substitution: Swap Parmesan for Pecorino Romano for a sharper edge

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente, usually around 8-10 minutes. Drain, reserving about 1 cup of pasta water.
  2. While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Stir for about 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned—trust me, burnt garlic is a kitchen no-no.
  3. Add the halved cherry tomatoes if you’re using them. Cook for another 3-4 minutes until they start to soften and release their juices. This step adds a lovely sweetness that balances the zestiness.
  4. Remove the skillet from heat and add the cooked pasta directly into it. Toss to coat the noodles in the garlicky oil and tomatoes.
  5. Stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper. If the pasta looks dry, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it up. This little trick keeps the sauce silky and helps everything meld together.
  6. Give everything one last toss and taste. Adjust seasoning as needed—sometimes a little extra lemon juice or salt makes all the difference.
  7. Serve immediately with an extra drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of Parmesan on top. Watching my kids’ faces light up when they dig into this is one of those kitchen moments I cherish.

  • Author: Jenny
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Cooking
  • Cuisine: International

Keywords: Zesty Pasta, recipe, cooking, food