Indulge in a bowl of pure comfort with this Lemon Mascarpone Pasta. It's the ultimate treat for pasta lovers, combining the richness of mascarpone cheese with the refreshing tang of lemon. This dish is both comforting and sophisticated, making it the perfect choice for a cozy night in. Treat yourself to a bowl of this creamy, dreamy pasta

Easy Lemon Pasta with Mascarpone

Ingredients:

• 1 lb spaghetti (or your favorite long pasta)

• 8 oz mascarpone cheese

• Zest and juice of 2 lemons

• 3 garlic cloves, sliced or whole, as you prefer

• 3 tbsp olive oil

• Chili flakes, to taste

• Sea salt, for both pasta water and seasoning

• Fresh basil stems and leaves

• Reserved pasta water (about 3 cups total)

• Freshly cracked black pepper or grated cheese, optional garnish

Instructions

1. Start boiling a large pot of water for the pasta. In the meantime, use a small saucepan to start infusing the olive oil. Warm 3 tbsp of olive oil over low heat. Add 3 garlic cloves, a pinch of chili flakes and salt, then a basil stem or two. Let the mixture gently sizzle and infuse, do not burn the garlic, it helps to remove the pan briefly from the heat as needed. Once fragrant, remove from the heat and let cool. It is very important that this oil is no longer hot!

2. When the pot of water starts to boil, add the spaghetti and lots of salt, cook until al dente, but first once the pasta water becomes starchy, carefully pour 1–2 cups into the infused oil (ensure the oil isn’t too hot or it was splatter and you may burn yourself). Cover and let simmer for about 5 minutes. Then blend with an immersion blender (or add to a blender) until smooth.

3. Strain the pasta, but first save 1 cup of the pasta water. Return the large pot to the stove on low heat. Stir in 8 oz of mascarpone cheese, the garlic infused water mix, zest and juice of the lemon. Let this melt together then add in your drained pasta. Add lots of fresh basil leaves and continuously toss, adding the reserved pasta water as needed. The sauce will begin to thicken and pasta will absorb the sauce creating a smooth and silky texture.

4. Serve immediately. If desired, garnish with freshly cracked black pepper, more basil leaves, and grated cheese. 

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