Lemon Parmesan Pasta with Greens
The ultimate comfort food, Lemon Parmesan Pasta with Greens combines creamy Parmesan cheese with fresh greens and a zesty lemon kick. It's a quick, easy weeknight dinner that will satisfy your cravings and impress your family. Make it tonight!
Equipment
- Grater
- Mixing Bowl
- Chef's Knife
- Wooden Spoon
- Skillet
- Frying Pan
Ingredients
- 8 oz dry macaroni preferably Fiber Gourmet Light Elbows
- 1 tsp salt for pasta cooking water
- 5 oz Baby Kale see notes
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 2 T lemon zest or more
- 1 T lemon juice or more
- 2 T olive oil
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese plus more for serving
Instructions
- Cook Macaroni in a large pot of salted water until barely al dente, follow cooking time on the package of pasta. If you're using Fiber Gourmet Light Elbows for the pasta that might take as long as 15 minutes before reaching al dente.
- Reserve 1/4 cup cooking water before draining.
- While pasta cooks, zest the lemon and squeeze the juice and finely chop the garlic if using fresh garlic.
- Wash greens in a salad spinner if needed and spin dry. If using larger greens, slice crosswise into 1 inch wide ribbons, discarding stems. (Baby greens don’t need to be sliced.)
- Heat olive oil in large frying pan, add garlic and lemon zest and saute 1 minute.
- Add greens and saute until wilted, about 5 minutes for larger greens or 2-3 minutes for baby greens.
- As soon as pasta is al dente, save 1/4 cup cooking water and then drain the pasta well and add to greens/garlic/lemon mixture, with lemon juice and reserved pasta cooking water (as needed).
- Stir in Parmesan cheese and serve hot, with additional cheese to be added at the table if desired.
Notes
- Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This pasta dish tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld.
- Freezing: While it’s best fresh, you can freeze the pasta without the greens. Just thaw and reheat, adding fresh greens at the time of cooking.
- Pairing: This pasta pairs wonderfully with a light salad or some crusty bread for a complete meal.
- Adjusting Flavor: Feel free to add more lemon juice or zest to enhance the citrus flavor. Tailor the dish to your liking!
- Garnishing: Consider adding toasted pine nuts or fresh herbs like basil or parsley for added texture and flavor.