Lemon Garlic Butter Pasta

Ingredients

• 1 pound Spaghetti
• 0.5 cup Unsalted butter
• 4 pieces Garlic cloves, minced
• 3 tablespoons Fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon Lemon zest
• 0.5 cup Grated Parmesan cheese
• 0.25 cup Fresh parsley, chopped
• 0.25 teaspoon Red pepper flakes(optional)
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper

Instructions

1. 1

   Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti according to package directions until al dente.

2. 2

   Before draining the pasta, reserve 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water for the sauce.

3. 3

   In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat until it begins to bubble.

4. 4

   Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes to the butter, sautéing for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.

5. 5

   Whisk in the lemon juice and lemon zest, then remove the skillet from the heat.

6. 6

   Add the cooked spaghetti to the skillet and toss thoroughly to coat the strands in the lemon butter sauce.

7. 7

   Gradually add the Parmesan cheese and the reserved pasta water, tossing until the sauce becomes creamy.

8. 8

   Garnish with fresh parsley, salt, and black pepper before serving immediately.