PASTA WITH FRIED LEMONS AND CHILE FLAKES
You probably already have a favorite pantry pasta dish that you habitually whip up when there's nothing in the house for dinner. Next time, try this one instead. It has all the usual players - olive oil, Parmesan, flaky sea salt - along with fried lemons for brightness and chile flakes for heat. Don't skip the step of blanching the lemon slices before frying. It may seem fussy, but it eliminates any bitterness in the lemon pith and takes only a few extra minutes. Then dry the lemon slices well before adding them to the hot oil; this helps them brown more deeply.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories dinner, lunch, quick, weekday, weeknight, pastas, main course
Time 30m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Finely zest 2 of the lemons and set aside. Trim the tops and bottoms off the other 2 lemons and cut lengthwise into quarters; remove seeds. Thinly slice the quarters crosswise into triangles. Blanch the lemon pieces in the boiling water for 2 minutes, then transfer with a slotted spoon to a dish towel. Blot dry.
- In the boiling water, add pasta and cook until just barely al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over high heat. Add the dried lemon pieces and season with a pinch each of salt and sugar. Cook until the lemons are caramelized and browned at the edges, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
- Melt the butter with the remaining oil in the pan over medium heat. Add the chile flakes and zest of both lemons; cook until fragrant. Whisk in the reserved pasta water.
- Toss in pasta, juice of 1 lemon, cheese, pepper and the remaining salt. Cook until pasta is well coated with sauce. Toss in the caramelized lemon and the celery leaves and parsley if using. Taste and add lemon juice if needed. Serve, topped with a drizzle of oil, more cheese if you like, and a sprinkle of sea salt.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 394, UnsaturatedFat 3 grams, Carbohydrate 61 grams, Fat 10 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 15 grams, SaturatedFat 6 grams, Sodium 313 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams, TransFat 0 grams
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Daniel Blakeley
[email protected]This pasta dish was a hit with everyone who tried it! The combination of lemon and chile flakes created a wonderfully flavorful sauce that was perfectly balanced. The crispy fried lemons added a nice contrast to the tender pasta. The dish was also ea
Laura Sofía
[email protected]I made this dish for a special occasion dinner and it was a huge success! The flavors were amazing and the presentation was beautiful. The crispy fried lemons were especially impressive. I also appreciated that the recipe was easy to make and didn't
Binu Daniel
[email protected]My kids are picky eaters, but they loved this pasta dish! The combination of lemon and chile flakes was just the right amount of spicy for them, and they loved the crispy fried lemons. I also appreciated that the recipe was easy to make and didn't re
DEAD man
[email protected]I'm gluten-free, so I was thrilled to find a pasta recipe that I could actually eat! The use of gluten-free pasta made this dish accessible to me, and the flavors were incredible. The combination of lemon and chile flakes was perfectly balanced, and
CHUKWUEBUKA ANTHONY
[email protected]I'm a vegetarian, so I was excited to find a pasta recipe that didn't include any meat. This dish was perfect! The combination of lemon and chile flakes created a wonderfully flavorful sauce that didn't need any meat to be delicious. I also appreciat
Ahimbisibwe Godfrey
[email protected]I'm always on the lookout for budget-friendly recipes, and this one definitely fits the bill. The ingredients are all very affordable and easy to find. The dish also came together in less than 30 minutes, which saved me time and money. The flavors we
Ifraz Shab
[email protected]I made this dish for a dinner party recently and it was a huge hit! Everyone loved the unique combination of flavors. The crispy fried lemons were especially popular. I also appreciated that the recipe was easy to scale up to serve a larger group. I'
Abdul Basit12
[email protected]I'm always looking for quick and easy recipes, and this one definitely fits the bill. The whole dish came together in less than 30 minutes, which is perfect for a weeknight meal. The flavors were also great. The lemon and chile flakes added a nice de
Sifat Sani
[email protected]I love spicy food, so I was excited to try this recipe. The chile flakes definitely delivered a nice kick, but it wasn't overpowering. I also loved the crispy texture of the fried lemons. They added a really nice contrast to the tender pasta. Overall
Awais waqas
[email protected]I'm always looking for healthy and flavorful recipes, and this one definitely fits the bill. The use of lemon and chile flakes adds a nice zing without being overpowering. I also appreciated that the recipe didn't call for a lot of oil or butter. The
Aytul Nobi
[email protected]As a beginner in the kitchen, I was a bit hesitant to try this recipe, but I'm so glad I did! The instructions were clear and easy to follow, and the dish turned out amazing. The fried lemons were a bit tricky to get right, but after a few tries, I m
Mbv Vbnm
[email protected]This pasta dish was an absolute delight! The combination of crispy fried lemons and spicy chile flakes created a wonderfully balanced and flavorful sauce. The lemon flavor was bright and refreshing, while the chile flakes added a subtle heat that kep