8ounces uncooked pastarigatoni or penne recommended
2tablespoonsbutter
1/2tablespoonflour
1smallclove garlicminced
1/4cupchicken broth/veg broth or dry white wine
2teaspoonslemon juice + zest of 1/2 lemon
1cupheavy/whipping cream
1/3cupfreshly grated parmesan cheese
Salt & pepperto taste
Garnish: fresh parsley & extra parm optional
Instructions
Boil a salted pot of water for the pasta and cook it al dente according to package directions.
When the pasta is about 10 minutes away from being done, add the butter to a skillet over medium-high heat. Once it melts, sprinkle the flour in and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring fairly often.
Add in the garlic, followed by the broth (or wine) and lemon juice + zest. Let it bubble for 1 minute.
Whisk in the cream and cook it for a few minutes until the sauce has thickened up to your liking.
Stir in the parmesan cheese and take the skillet off the heat. Season with salt & pepper as needed (I am generous with both).
Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss until coated (I like to add a tablespoon or so of the pasta water to the sauce prior to draining it, especially if it's become a tad too thick). Garnish with more parmesan and a bit of chopped parsley if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
This pasta makes 4 reasonably-sized portions with plenty of sauce, but if you've got really hungry people and you're not serving it with anything else, I would double the recipe. Serves 2-4 depending on how much people eat.
I do NOT recommend subbing the heavy cream for anything with a lower fat content (e.g. half-and-half or milk) because the lemon in the sauce is very likely to curdle it, and you'll have to add more flour to thicken the sauce.
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.