Description
A bright and flavorful Lemon Caper Pasta that combines tangy lemon, briny capers, and fresh herbs for a quick and delicious meal. Perfect for a light lunch or dinner, this dish comes together easily with pantry staples and can be made vegan by substituting nutritional yeast for parmesan cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Sauce
- 8 oz pasta (long or short shape)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ cup capers in brine
- Juice and zest of 1 large lemon
- Fresh herbs (parsley or thyme), to taste
- ½ cup pasta water (reserved from cooking)
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese (or nutritional yeast for vegan option)
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Before draining, reserve about ½ cup of the pasta cooking water and then drain the pasta.
- Sauté Garlic: In a skillet over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the minced garlic (and optional red pepper flakes if desired) and sauté until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes, taking care not to burn the garlic.
- Add Capers and Lemon: Stir in the capers, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Let the mixture simmer gently for about one minute to meld the flavors.
- Toss Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the lemon-caper sauce. Pour in the reserved pasta water gradually and toss everything together until the pasta is well coated and the sauce is silky.
- Finish with Herbs and Cheese: Mix in fresh herbs of your choice such as parsley or thyme. Stir in the grated parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast if making vegan, followed by the butter to add richness. Toss again just before serving.
Notes
- Use preserved capers in brine for best flavor; rinse to reduce saltiness if desired.
- Reserve pasta water helps emulsify the sauce and binds it to the pasta.
- Substitute vegan butter and nutritional yeast to make this dish fully vegan.
- Add red pepper flakes when sautéing garlic for a subtle heat.
- Fresh herbs can be varied according to preference including basil or oregano.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: lemon pasta, caper pasta, quick pasta recipe, Italian pasta, vegetarian pasta, easy dinner
