Creamy Lemon Pasta Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Rose

For everyone saying its too much lemon juice my guess is you're using really large lemons? In my experience small lemons provide 1-2 Tbls where as a large lemon is more like a quarter cup or more. For this recipe I think around a quarter cup total (4 Tablespoons) is enough.

Sam

This is brightened considerably by the addition of a couple of handfuls of baby arugula (if you like it, of course!).

ML

I sauteed two thinly sliced garlic cloves in a little olive oil before adding the lemon zest and the cream. It add a whole new dimension. A keeper.

Lin

I use half and half successfully instead of heavy cream in cooking sauces with one caveat. I use only organic half and half as there are no additives (including the added sugar which is in fat free) to alter the flavor.

Jackson

Why alter the recipe and then give a bad rating? Maybe you need to try it as written.

Melanie

I ate a dish like this in Rome and I always remembered how simple, but great it was. This is just like it delicious with good Parmesan , so easy and you would think lemon and cream would curdle it doesn't , try it highly recommend!

Mike Michaud

Do you like pasta? Do you like lemon? Maybe some cheese? Do you like simple, straightforward recipes? Do you like to get dinner on the table with minimal stress and time investment? Do you like it when your family eats everything you cooked and then asks for more?

If yes to any or all of these, this is the recipe for you. Seriously. This was so simple and so awesome. Next time I'll try the asparagus as some others recommended. This time I mixed in some shrimp and grated romano. Awesome

D.S.

American lemons are sour. Italian lemons are bigger and sweeter. So when ever I make any pasta con limone, I add sugar to the lemon juice .. add a little and taste. Perfect when barely sweet.

To knock socks, place cooked, picked lobster in aluminum foil aand warm in 200 degree oven while doing all the other stepss.

At the very end, add lobster and toss. Figure 1/4 lb lobster meat per serving.

Mangia mangia!,,

Rose

Try using a microplane to zest. No pith, and it helps bring out the lemon's oils. Also the zest is small enough so that they almost "melt" in.

fluteed

This doesn't curdle because zest is not acidic (juice is of course). The juice is added at the end after the cream has been diluted by adding to the pasta. Be sure to use organic lemons if possible because of the fungicide used in most non organic citrus fruits, concentrated in the outer skin.
If you want more protein, add some frozen cooked peas.

Georgia

Our two lemons yeilded almost a cup of lemon juice. We almost died. Our mouths may never unpucker. For those who don't know, apparently when following a recepie the juice of a lemon equals about 3 tablespoons.

Deborah White

Absolutely delicious with just the right balance when I added broccolini roasted to a slight char. The broccolini was chopped (including stems and leaves), douses with EVOO, and roasted at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.

Gigi

Mary, although this cream sauce will cling better to a wider noodle make it with whatever pasta you'd like. How about fettucine instead of angel hair?

I never liked egg noodles either because I always bought the standard ones on the bottom shelf of t the grocery store but then I discovered the thick Amish egg noodles and an egg noodle in the freezer section. Now, these are egg noodles!

TAB

I added steamed asparagus tips to this, and it was superb.

Whitney Devlin

Who knew something so simply could make one's mouth water. In this case less is definitely more. Tonight, substituting pappardelle for noodles... Dinner is served!

Sarah

Made this tonight with some pan-caramelized garlic and parsley and parmesan. I wasn’t paying attention to the sauce because I had too many things going so the cream broke but it was delicious and easy. The texture was a bit like ricotta. It’s gone! I’ll try it again without over boiling the cream.

John

I only used the juice of one lemon and added a copious amount of red pepper flakes. Grated parmesan is great on this too.

Lisa Jacquemetton

A family favorite, served often with Salmon caviar, or shrimp. Simply delicious.

Whippi

I add capers and a little Parmesan...

Julie

So easy and delicious! I used fresh pappardelle instead of egg noodles. What a decadent treat on a weeknight!

Tim H

Yeah followed guidance and only used 1/4 c lemon juice from 2 big lemons and still way too much lemon and way too much zest in unappetizing strips. May try again with a tablespoon of so of juice and a little grated zest, interesting idea but way way overdone

Ryan

Angel hair instead of egg noodlesHeat small tab of butter and season with garlic powder before adding pasta in pan1/4 cup lemon juice / Add 1/2 cup pasta water / Reduce added salt when seasoning

MyKaila Phelps

This recipe made a perfect easy, light summer pasta dish. I added some butter, chili flakes and parm. Will be making again!

Theresa

5-10-23Half recipeUsed 6 oz noodles, seemed like a lot, but we ate it allCook noodles for about six minutes; save some pasta water to incorporateJuice of half a large lemon was plenty Added 2.5 oz smoked coho which was great. Tuna would be very good in this.Try adding green onions or,:as many have suggested, shallotsOverall, tasty and So. Damn. Easy. And quick.

Lizzie

This was the third time I made this and loved it again! Sauteed thinly sliced shallots and cubed zucchini and added them in. Used half and half and the zester grater so no need to cut up thin strips.

Sarah

So quick and easy! I happened to have two lovely Sorrentino lemons from my local market on hand, so I used those. I microplaned the zest instead of using the strips because it was easier. Even with using Italian lemons, the juice of both would have been too much— I started with 1/4 cup and added a splash more because I wanted it very bright but I had more left over from juicing both. You can use a heavy hand with salt with so much assertive brightness and the richness of the cream! Delicious.

Lauren M

Has anyone made this and actually served it to 6 people? 12 ounces of pasta for 6 people sounds like tiny portions. Maybe an appetizer?

Clkrja

I make this weekly! We enjoy it with a healthy dose of freshly grated Parmesan cheese!

mary

lemons come in different sizes. i wish the lemon juice and zest measurements were in teaspoons, tablespoons or cups.

Amanda

Pretty good! I used Meyers, so I held back on a bit of the juice. Still seemed really lemony, so I added a bit of dill and basil to round it out. I wish I would've saved some pasta water to thin it.

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Creamy Lemon Pasta Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What goes first cream or lemon? ›

Add the lemon juice last.

Lemon juice can curdle cream, I have never had that happen to me as I add it right at the end with the pasta. Also it shouldn't happen if your cream is neither too hot or too cold. That is why a gentle simmer on a low heat is key!

How do you add lemon juice to cream without curdling? ›

Like someone else said, curdling is more of an acidity issue so don't add the cream directly to anything like lemon juice or vinegar. If you must add both to a recipe, add the acid first, let it get distributed throughout your dish so it's essentially diluted, and then add the cream while stirring.

Can you add lemon to cream? ›

Adding lemon juice to heavy cream is a common method for making lemon whipped cream and other lemon-flavored desserts. However, adding lemon juice to heavy cream can also cause the cream to curdle, making it nearly impossible to complete your recipe.

What if I add too much lemon juice to pasta sauce? ›

Thankfully, there are a few ways to fix a dish if you have added too much lemon juice. One option is to balance out the acidity by adding a sweetener such as sugar or honey. Another option is to dilute the lemon juice by adding more of the other ingredients in the recipe.

What is lemon cream sauce made of? ›

ingredients
  1. 3 cups heavy cream.
  2. 1 pinch salt and pepper.
  3. 2 teaspoons lemon zest.
  4. 12 lemon, juice of.
  5. 1 tablespoon fresh parsley.

What happens when you mix cream and lemon? ›

Turns out, the acidity of the juice acts as a thickening agent, which reacts with the proteins in the dairy to increase the viscosity. It's a similar concept to adding vinegar to milk to make buttermilk, said Clark. Once combined, it was time for parm—18-month DOP Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese to be exact.

How to make lemon cream at home? ›

Simply mix the egg yolks with granulated sugar, cornstarch, water and lemon juice. Transfer the mixture to the heat and let it thicken until smooth and silky. Light and made without cow's milk, lemon cream is a dairy-free recipe that is also perfect for lactose intolerants who do not want to give up a sweet cuddle.

What happens to milk after adding lemon? ›

When the lemon juice is added into water, the milk becomes sour and bacteria convert the sugar lactose into lactic acid which does the curdling. Thus, curdling of milk is due to coagulation of the casein micelles. So, the correct option is A.

Will lemon juice break a cream sauce? ›

Lemon can cause cream sauces to curdle. As mentioned above, adding the lemon to the cream after it's been heated will keep it from curdling. Whisking continuously as you add in the lemon juice will help it evenly distributed throughout the sauce without breaking and curdling.

Can you add lemon to store bought alfredo sauce? ›

Lemon. You'd be surprised by how much a squeeze of lemon adds to a jarred Alfredo sauce. Adding a touch of acid to a dish is the perfect way to liven up the flavor without being too overpowering. Just make sure to add the splash of citrus after your jarred sauce has been heated to keep the acid's intensity.

Why does my lemon cream sauce curdle? ›

The best way to prevent your sauce from curdling is to make sure that you don't mix the lemon juice with the cream until the cream has heated and that it never gets hot enough to even come to a simmer. If the dairy is either too cold or too hot, it will react with the acids in the lemon juice and cause it to curdle.

Is lemon cream good? ›

Yes is very good for skin…. It is a really good cream that will ensure your skin complexion is even tone and so beautiful. Lemon fresh cream is a skin care product with a handful of benefits including protection against sunburn, removal of dark skin patches and control of acne.

Should I add lemon to my pasta sauce? ›

But say the tomato's acidity is muted, its flavor a tad too close to cloying. A shot of red wine vinegar might do the trick here, but that adds its own flavor; a small splash of humble lemon can brighten the sauce exponentially without stealing the spotlight.

Why do people add lemon to pasta? ›

Why Do You Put Lemon Juice in Pasta? Fresh lemon juice adds a fantastic bright flavor to pasta, and it's especially delicious when paired with savory Parmesan cheese, as in this lemon pasta recipe.

Should I add lemon juice to pasta sauce? ›

Lemons are a flavor enhancer just like salt but without all the sodium. A fresh squeeze brings out the acidity of the tomatoes and enhances the flavor of the noodles, making the entire dish more savory.

Should you add lemon or milk first? ›

Acidic ingredients like lemon juice, vinegar, tomatoes, or even wine can cause your milk to curdle. Prevent this reaction by reducing your acids first before adding dairy.

Can I mix lemon with body cream? ›

If you still insist on using lemon juice in your skincare routine, it is best to dilute it before use. Direct application of lemon juice to your skin can result in skin irritation and even skin burns.

What should I apply before cream? ›

What Order Should I Apply Skin Care Products?
  • Step 1: Cleanser. After removing all your makeup, cleanse your face with an oil-based or water-based cleanser—or both if you're doing a double cleanse! ...
  • Step 2: Toner. ...
  • Step 3: Serum. ...
  • Step 4: Spot Treatment. ...
  • Step 5: Eye Cream. ...
  • Step 6: Moisturizer. ...
  • Step 7: Face Oil.
Jul 10, 2020

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