Description
A creamy, tangy Lemon Garlic Sauce perfect for coating pasta, featuring butter, garlic, lemon zest and juice, Parmesan cheese, and fresh parsley. This quick stovetop sauce balances rich and bright flavors, ideal for enhancing your favorite pasta dishes.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Sauce Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp. butter
- 4 garlic cloves, grated with a microplane
- 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 2 cups half and half (not fat free)
- Zest of 1 lemon, about 1 tsp.
- 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 Tbsp. finely chopped parsley
- Kosher salt to taste
- Fresh black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat butter and garlic: In a 12-inch non-stick skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add grated garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Add flour and cook: Stir in the all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly until lightly golden to remove the raw flour taste without burning.
- Incorporate half and half: Gradually pour in the half and half while stirring. Season with kosher salt and fresh black pepper to taste. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until the sauce thickens, about 1-2 minutes. Whisk out any lumps that may form so the sauce coats the back of a spoon.
- Add lemon and cheese: Whisk in lemon juice and lemon zest. Stir in Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley; the cheese will melt immediately, enriching the sauce.
- Serve immediately: Use the sauce right away to dress cooked pasta or as a base for other dishes for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- For a smoother sauce, grate the garlic and Parmesan cheese with a microplane. Freshly grated Parmesan melts better than pre-grated versions.
- This recipe yields about 2 cups of sauce, sufficient for 8 ounces of dry pasta.
- If the sauce thickens upon standing, thin it with reserved pasta water, white wine, milk, or additional half and half.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
