How many times have you called ”Pasta”, Macaroni? I know you lost count! This is a common mistake here in Rwanda where people refer to Pasta as Macaroni or Spaghetti.
Macaroni, is one type of pasta, the word derives from the Sicilian language and means manipulating dough with energy, and Spaghetti is just a plural form of pasta.
The dough can be moulded into many funny little shapes and boiled. Pasta is staple food of traditional Italian cuisine. There are over 600 shapes known and loved by mankind.
The World Pasta Day is celebrated across the world and emphasizes one of the most consumed foods worldwide. In honour of the day, we provided you an easy and probably never-tried-before meal: Lemon Spaghetti. It is great as a light meal or as a side dish for grilled fish.
Try out the recipe below and let us know what you think.
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 4 main courses or 6 side-dish servings
Ingredients
2/3 cup olive oil
2/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 2 lemons)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound dried spaghetti
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest (from about 2 lemons)
Directions:
Whisk the oil, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, ¾ teaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of pepper in a large bowl.
The lemon sauce should be set aside.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until tender but still firm to the bite (about 8 minutes). When draining, reserve 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Add the spaghetti to the lemon sauce, and toss with the basil and lemon zest.
Now, toss the pasta with enough reserved cooking liquid, ¼ cup at a time. Season the pasta with more salt and pepper for a stronger taste. Transfer to bowls and serve!