Best Pasta With Creamy Greens Lemon Recipes

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CREAMY, LEMONY PASTA



Creamy, Lemony Pasta image

This 15-minute pasta lets you decide how much effort to put in: If you've had a day and need an easy, no-nonsense meal, then make it as-is and use kitchen shears to cut your scallions. If you're feeling slightly more ambitious, then make a topping that adds texture, vibrant green color and more lemony flavor to the dish (see Tip). But don't cut corners when it comes to the yogurt: Use a thick, strained whole-milk yogurt like labneh, Greek or skyr, as it will give the finished dish an irresistibly rich and tangy taste.

Provided by Yasmin Fahr

Categories     dinner, easy, weeknight, pastas, main course

Time 15m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

Kosher salt
1 pound short curly pasta, such as cavatappi, fusilli or farfalle
1 large lemon, zested and juiced (about 1 tablespoon zest and 3 tablespoons juice)
A heaping ¾ cup grated Parmesan, plus more as needed
Black pepper
1/4 cup labneh or other thick, strained whole-milk yogurt, such as Greek or skyr, drained if necessary
2 scallions, green and white parts, sliced

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta, adjust the heat to maintain a gentle boil, and cook until just shy of al dente, 2 to 3 minutes less than the package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Drain the pasta, then return to the pot on the stove over medium-low heat.
  • Stir in ¾ cup of the pasta water, half the lemon juice, the Parmesan and several grinds of black pepper, stirring vigorously until a silky sauce has formed. Add a tablespoon of water at a time as needed to make a creamier sauce if it looks dry. Stir in the labneh, remaining lemon juice, lemon zest and scallions until creamy and combined, about 1 minute more. Season with salt as needed. Finish with another grind of pepper and serve immediately.

ONE-POT CREAMY PASTA AND GREENS



One-Pot Creamy Pasta and Greens image

In this recipe, frozen spinach, pasta and a whole lot of milk come together to create a satisfying pasta dish that will remind you of the best creamed spinach you've ever had. Stir the mixture often and vigorously to help the pasta release its starch and create a rich sauce. The lemon peel provides a bright citrus flavor, but you can leave it out. If you'd like a spicy version, add a dash of red-pepper flakes along with the shallot and garlic. You can also substitute different greens: Instead of frozen spinach, you can use 2 cups of chopped dark leafy greens, like chard or kale.

Provided by Ali Slagle

Categories     dinner, weekday, pastas, main course

Time 40m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 shallot, finely chopped
Kosher salt and black pepper
5 cups whole milk, plus more as needed
10 ounces frozen chopped spinach
2 wide lemon peel strips
10 ounces ditalini, orzo or pearl couscous
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan, plus more for serving

Steps:

  • In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and shallot, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring, until softened, 2 to 4 minutes.
  • Add the 5 cups milk, spinach, lemon peel and 2 teaspoons salt. Cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up the frozen spinach with your spoon, until the spinach is softened and the milk is just simmering, 5 to 10 minutes.
  • Add the pasta and cook, stirring often and vigorously, until the pasta is al dente, 20 to 25 minutes, adjusting the heat as needed to maintain a gentle simmer. If it looks dry at any point, add more milk. The mixture will continue to thicken as it sits, so it's OK if the sauce looks a little soupy.
  • Once the pasta is cooked, turn off the heat, discard the lemon peels, and stir in the Parmesan until melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve with more Parmesan.

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