by Mario Batali

Linguine with Lemon Recipe

I can rely on this six-ingredient Linguine with Lemon Italian pasta recipe to get my family back on track, and back to the basics.

While I typically use dried linguine in this recipe, any pasta on hand will prove just as dreamy. Quality extra-virgin olive oil is essential in this pasta dish, as there are so few ingredients, so I use Roi, San Giuliano or Primo. All of my favorite olive oils can be found at Eataly or in your nearest Italian market.

Although the varieties of pasta and oil can be substituted, I find that a Meyer or Sorrento lemon is key. The Meyer lemon -- a cross between an orange and a lemon -- is a relatively new import from China. Desirable because it's sweeter than other varieties of this citrus fruit, Meyer lemon adds a slightly floral flavor and fragrant oil that bring all of these ingredients together harmoniously.

With its fragrant, medium-thick peel and fleshy inside, the Sorrento lemon is another top qualifier. This variety remains one of the richest lemons in ascorbic acid and is subsequently often incorporated as the acidic component in savory dishes. The peel of Sorrento lemons contains such culinary gold that in the early 20th century they were sold individually and could only be handled by women adorned with trimmed nails and cotton gloves. Today that is clearly less the case, as Sorrentos are the most widely used lemons for fresh consumption in Italy.

Throw fresh herbs on top of this dish to add a hint of color. Parsley and lemon are always a nice pairing, but almost any fresh herb complements the citrus.

This linguine with lemon pasta recipe embodies everything I love about Italian cooking. It's clean, it's simple, and it leaves your appetite remarkably satisfied.

Enjoy.

Linguine with Lemon Recipe

    Prep Time: 15 minutes

    Cook time: 18 minutes

    Yield: Serves 6

Linguine with Lemon Recipe Ingredients

    4 lemons, preferably Meyer or Sorrento

    Kosher salt

    6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

    4 tablespoons unsalted butter

    1 pound dried linguine

    1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus extra for serving

Linguine with Lemon Recipe Recipe Instructions

    Grate the zest and squeeze the juice from 2 of the lemons. Using a sharp serrated or other knife, cut off the tops and bottoms of the remaining 2 lemons to expose the flesh. Stand each lemon upright on the cutting board and cut away the peel and white pith in strips, working from top to bottom and following the natural curve of the fruit. Hold the lemon over a bowl to catch the juices and cut down along the membranes on either side of each section to release it, letting the sections drop into the bowl.

    Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot, and add 3 tablespoons kosher salt.

    Meanwhile, combine the lemon zest, juice, olive oil and butter in another pot and heat over medium-low heat until the butter melts. Remove from the heat.

    Drop the pasta into the boiling water and cook until just al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water.

    Add the pasta and 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water to the lemon juice mixture and stir and toss over medium heat to coat the pasta well. Stir in the lemon sections and cheese (add a splash or two more of the reserved pasta water if necessary to loosen the sauce) and serve immediately, with additional grated Parmigiano on the side.

Pasta, Linguine Pasta, Italian

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Linguine Pasta with Lemon Recipe

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