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A close up of capellini with garlic lemon and parmesan with a fork.
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5 from 51 votes

Capellini with Garlic, Lemon and Parmesan

A simple and delicious recipe of Capellini pasta with Garlic Lemon and Parmesan is the perfect weeknight dinner that can be made in less than 30 minutes.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time12 minutes
Total Time17 minutes
Course: dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 4
Calories: 368kcal
Author: Teri & Jenny

Ingredients

  • ½ pound capellini
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons minced shallots
  • 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 1 lemon zested and juiced
  • salt and pepper to taste

garnish

  • lemon zest
  • red pepper flakes
  • grated Parmesan

Instructions

  • Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil.
  • Add a handful of salt followed by the pasta and boil for 5 to 6 minutes or until the pasta is cooked through.
  • Drain and set aside, Reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
  • Place a large skillet over medium heat and add butter. Once butter has melted add shallots and garlic and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Add pasta and pasta water and season with salt and pepper and toss together for 1 minute. Lower heat to medium. Add lemon zest and juice and continue to sauté for 2 minute. Finish pasta with additional lemon zest, a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes and a generous amount of freshly grated Parmesan. Toss together and serve.

Video

Notes

  • Is Capellini the same as angel hair or thin spaghetti? While similar, angel hair is actually thinner than capellini. Capellini is also thinner than thin spaghetti. Either would make a fine substitute. 
Tips: 
  • Seasoning the pasta water with salt is very important. As the pasta absorbs the water, when boiling, it will flavor the pasta internally. You'll also need less salt in the overall dish.
  • Adding some of the starchy pasta water to the skillet will help to thicken the butter 'non-sauce' and nicely coat the pasta in the overall dish.
  • Using butter in this recipe instead of oil adds a subtly nutty flavor to the dish without having to worry about low smoke point since the heat doesn't go above medium and the overall skillet cook time is relatively short.

Nutrition

Calories: 368kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 189mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 175IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg