Easy Lemon Pasta

Ingredients

• 12 ounces spaghetti
• Kosher salt
• Extra virgin olive oil
• 6 large garlic cloves, (minced)
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, (plus more to your liking)
• Zest of 2 lemons
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley, (chopped)
• Black pepper
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional), plus more to your liking)

Instructions

1. Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then salt it well. Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions to al dente (about 8 minutes). Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining.
2. Make a simple lemon-garlic olive oil sauce. When the pasta is nearly done (about 5 minutes into cooking it), heat 1/4 cup of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Whisk in the lemon juice and about 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water, saving the remaining water for later.
3. Coat the pasta in the oil. Drain the pasta, then add it to the skillet. Toss over medium heat until it’s well-coated.
4. Finish and serve. Remove the skillet from the heat and add the parsley, lemon zest and parmesan (if using). Season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss again to combine, and if needed, add a little bit more of the pasta cooking water and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Serve immediately!