Lemon Capellini Fresh Herbs (Printable)

Silky capellini in lemon butter sauce with fresh herbs, perfect for a quick elegant dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz capellini (angel hair pasta)
02 - Salt, for pasta water

→ Sauce

03 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter
04 - Zest of 2 lemons
05 - Juice of 2 lemons (about 4 tbsp)
06 - 1/4 cup reserved pasta water
07 - 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
08 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Herbs and Garnish

09 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
10 - 2 tbsp fresh basil, finely chopped
11 - 1 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
12 - Extra lemon zest, for garnish (optional)
13 - Extra Parmesan, for serving (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add capellini and cook until just al dente, about 2 to 3 minutes. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water, then drain pasta.
02 - Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add lemon zest and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Add lemon juice and reserved pasta water to the skillet. Stir to combine and let simmer for 1 minute.
04 - Add drained capellini to the skillet and toss gently to coat with lemon butter sauce.
05 - Sprinkle in Parmesan cheese and season with freshly ground black pepper. Toss until cheese melts and sauce is silky. Add additional pasta water if needed for creaminess.
06 - Remove from heat and gently toss in parsley, basil, and chives to combine.
07 - Plate immediately, garnished with optional extra lemon zest, herbs, and Parmesan as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Its faster than ordering takeout and tastes like something from a fancy Italian restaurant
  • The fresh herbs make it feel special even on a random Tuesday night
02 -
  • Capellini goes from perfect to mushy in seconds so stand right by the pot and taste it constantly
  • Room temperature butter melts more evenly and keeps your sauce from separating
03 -
  • Use a microplane for the lemon zest. It gives you fluffy zest without any bitter pith.
  • Grate your Parmesan from a wedge. The flavor difference is worth the extra effort.
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