Tagliolini al Limone
Tagliolini al Limone has become a rather symbolic dish for me. It represents to me making the best of situations life throws your way, just like the saying when life gives you lemons you make lemonade…...I say when life gives you lemons make Tagliolini al Limone. I’m sure everyone has some pasta, lemons and grated cheese in their pantry’s so please give it a try this weekend!
This dish has become New Year’s tradition for me when I usually make it for NYE or on New Year’s Day, and on my birthday which is also the day, I really consider New Year’s Day. 2020 was some year for all of us, and I’m hoping all of us have a better coming year. Don’t be scared to dream and take chances you thought are impossible….Anything is possible.
I wish you all a Happy New Year!
Tagliolini al Limone
Tagliolini al Limone
Serves 2
Ingredients:
2 Portions Fresh Pasta (freshly made, or store-bought….if all you have is dried pasta on hand it will be really good but tastes absolutely amazing with fresh)
1 lemon
1 to 2 TB butter
EVOO
Salt to taste
Cracked green peppercorn to taste (black peppercorn can be used, but keep in mind it will have a stronger taste)
Cracked rose peppercorn (optional but tastes fantastic with citrus)
A handful of herbs of your choice (chopped arugula, parsley, thyme, or basil all pair nicely with lemon)
¼ cup to ½ a cup of grated cheese such as Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano or Pecorino
Note: If you have toasted nuts lying around like pine nuts, pistachio or almonds also taste great to add. This is one of the easiest pantry pastas to make with what you happen to have on hand that has such a vibrant flavor due to the lemon juice & zest
Freshly Cut Tagliolini
Method:
Place a large pot to boil to cook the pasta, when boiling season your pasta water with salt so that it tastes like soup-not like the sea which is too salty
While the water is boiling, melt the butter in the pan. Zest the lemon, and place the zest to the side. Juice the lemon, and add to the pan once the butter melts. Stir well so that the butter and lemon combine completely and cook on low for a couple of minutes. Add the zest, stir and shut off the heat. Boil your pasta according to package instructions. Tagliolini usually takes 2 to 3 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving some cooking water. Add the pasta to the pan with the lemon juice/butter and stir well. Add a splash of pasta cooking water as needed, to marry the sauce to the pasta. Add some grated cheese, every time you add some of the cooking water and stir quickly to melt the cheese into the pasta. You can add as little or as much grated cheese as you want to your liking. Add the fresh herbs you’re using and stir so that the heat of the pasta slightly wilts the herb. Plate and add more grated cheese if you like.
