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Creamy Roast Garlic and Lemon Pasta Sauce Recipe

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4.1 from 14 reviews

A luscious and flavorful creamy roast garlic and lemon pasta sauce that combines sweet caramelized garlic, bright lemon zest and juice, pepper, and parmesan cheese. This simple yet decadent sauce pairs beautifully with your favorite pasta for an indulgent meal perfect for two to three people.

  • Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Yield: 2-3 servings

Ingredients

Pasta

  • 150g fresh pasta per person or 100g dried pasta (for 2-3 servings, adjust accordingly)

Roast Garlic

  • 2 whole heads garlic
  • 2 tbsp olive oil

Sauce

  • 30g butter, cubed
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 cup single cream (heavy cream can be used for richer sauce)
  • 2-3 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 50g parmesan cheese, finely grated

To Serve

  • Extra lemon zest
  • Dried paprika flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Garlic: Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F). Remove the outer papery layers of the garlic heads and slice off the tops horizontally to expose the garlic cloves.
  2. Roast Garlic: Drizzle olive oil over the cut garlic heads, wrap each individually in foil, and roast in the oven for about 45 minutes, or until cloves are soft and caramelized.
  3. Make Garlic Paste: Allow the roasted garlic to cool, then squeeze the cloves out and mash into a smooth paste using the back of a spoon.
  4. Cook Pasta: Boil pasta in well-salted water until al dente. Reserve some pasta cooking water for later use.
  5. Melt Butter and Season: In a frying pan over medium heat, melt the butter and allow it to foam. Stir in the pepper.
  6. Add Garlic Paste: Whisk in the garlic paste to the butter mixture, adding to taste.
  7. Add Cream and Lemon: Pour in the cream, lowering the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Stir in the lemon juice and zest, whisking to combine.
  8. Incorporate Parmesan: Gradually add the parmesan in small batches, whisking in between to melt the cheese smoothly into the sauce.
  9. Simmer Sauce: Let the sauce simmer gently for a few minutes until it thickens slightly.
  10. Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked pasta and about ¼ cup of reserved pasta water into the sauce. Let it simmer together for about a minute, adding more pasta water if needed to keep the sauce saucy.
  11. Serve: Transfer to serving bowls and garnish with extra lemon zest and optional dried paprika flakes.

Notes

  • The sauce is best served on the saucier side because pasta absorbs sauce quickly.
  • Adjust garlic quantity according to your preference for intensity.
  • Use heavy cream instead of single cream for a richer sauce.
  • Reserve pasta water to help loosen sauce and improve texture.
  • If you don’t have fresh lemon, bottled lemon juice can be used, but fresh zest adds more flavor.
  • Author: Maya
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Roasting and Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Italian
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Find it online: https://recipeteach.com/creamy-roast-garlic-and-lemon-pasta-sauce-recipe/