One of the easiest pasta dishes you'll ever make, all you have to do is boil the water for the pasta. This makes a great light meal or a great side dish to any meat or fish dish.
Ingredients
⅔ cup olive oil
⅔ cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup fresh lemon juice (from about 2 lemons)
¾ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
1 pound spaghetti
⅓ cup chopped fresh basil
1 tablespoon lemon zest (from about 2 lemons)
Directions
In a large bowl, whisk the oil, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice and ¾ teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of pepper to blend. Set the lemon sauce aside. (The sauce can be made up to 8 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before using).
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Add the spaghetti to the lemon sauce, and toss with the basil and lemon zest. Toss the pasta with enough reserved cooking liquid, 1/4 cup at a time, to moisten. Season the pasta with more salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to bowls and serve.
