Description
A creamy and zesty pasta dish featuring feta cheese and fresh lemon, perfect for a quick and delicious meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz pasta (penne, spaghetti, or your choice)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (or whole milk for a lighter version)
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for a bit of heat)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for extra creaminess)
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving about 1/2 cup of pasta water, and set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn.
- Add the crumbled feta cheese, heavy cream (or milk), fresh lemon juice, and lemon zest to the skillet. Stir until the feta begins to melt and the sauce becomes creamy.
- If the sauce is too thick, add a small amount of reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Stir in red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Toss the cooked pasta into the sauce and stir until well-coated.
- Garnish with fresh basil or parsley and optionally sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese before serving.
Notes
- For a lighter version, you can substitute the heavy cream with whole milk or even a non-dairy milk like almond milk.
- Feel free to adjust the amount of red pepper flakes for your preferred spice level.
- This pasta is delicious with grilled chicken or roasted vegetables for added protein and flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 35mg