Prepare yourself for a mouthwatering pasta experience that harmoniously blends the refreshing flavors of lemon and garlic with a delightful crunch of toasted almonds. This lemony garlic pasta, also known as pasta al limone in Italian, is an easy-to-make culinary delight suitable for all pasta enthusiasts.
I'll guide you through making this irresistible vegan lemon pasta for dinner, with handy tips to nail it every time.
It's a hit for its amazing taste and health perks. Fresh lemon juice and zest give it a zesty pop, while a dash of pepper flakes adds just the right amount of heat.
You'll find the ingredients are pantry staples, making this a go-to for a quick, flavorful meal on busy nights.
This recipe inspired us to make our zesty easy pasta with asparagus, made quickly in 15 minutes, another of our staple vegan Spring recipes.
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💚 Why you will love it
- Bright, Zesty Flavor
- Simple Ingredients
- Quick Preparation
- Nutrient-Rich
- Versatile Dish
- Crowd-pleaser
🧾 Ingredients
Your must-have healthy ingredients to make an unforgettable pasta dish:
- Lemon juice and zest: Adding fresh lemon juice and zest brings the dish a bright and tangy flavor.
- Fresh Parsley: The vibrant and aromatic fresh parsley adds a pop of freshness to the pasta, complementing the lemony flavors while providing essential nutrients like vitamins A and C.
- Almonds: The toasted almonds bring a delightful crunch and nutty flavor, adding texture and depth.
- Gluten-free Spaghetti: The classic choice of spaghetti pasta provides the perfect base for this dish, allowing the flavors to coat each strand evenly, creating a satisfying and comforting meal.
- Garlic: With its aromatic and savory profile, garlic adds a bold and robust flavor to the pasta.
- Extra virgin olive oil: Using a high-quality option contributes to a rich and smooth mouthfeel and brings its distinctive fruity notes.
- Red pepper flakes (Pepperoncino): Add a subtle hint of heat and spice, balancing the flavors and providing a gentle kick to the dish without overpowering the other ingredients.
Optional: tequila to infuse the toasted almonds.
We also like topping it with this Homemade Vegan Parmesan, which takes less than 5 minutes to make.
Substitutions
| Original Ingredient | Suggested Substitution |
|---|---|
| Almonds | Toasted cashews or toasted pine nuts |
| Vegan Parmesan cheese | Nutritional yeast |
| Gluten-free spaghetti | Regular spaghetti, lentil, or chickpea pasta |
| Regular spaghetti | Whole wheat or brown rice spaghetti |
| Olive oil | Vegan butter |
| Red pepper flakes | Reduce/omit or try a touch of cayenne pepper or a splash of red pepper-infused olive oil. |
🍽️ Equipment
Large frying pan like a wok, chopping board, and sharp large knife. You can also use a food processor to save time chopping parsley.
🔪 Instructions
- In a flat pan, toast the almonds with salt and oil over medium-low heat until golden. Add an optional splash of tequila, give it a quick stir, turn off the heat, and let it cool.
- Slice the garlic cloves into small flakes. Squeeze and zest lemons.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet or wok-like pan over low heat and add the garlic flakes. Once they start to turn golden, turn off the heat. This is the same technique used to make a garlic risotto.
- Boil water in a large pot with a bay leaf and salt. Cook the spaghetti for 2 minutes less than the package instructions since it will finish cooking in the pan, and you want the final result to be al dente. Drain it.
- While the pasta cooks, chop the parsley, grate the lemon zest, and juice the lemons. Coarsely chop the cooled almonds and sprinkle with sea salt.
- Using kitchen tongs, combine the cooked and drained pasta, chopped parsley, infused garlic olive oil, and the rest of the ingredients in the pan, just a handful at a time. Add the chili for an extra kick of flavor.
- Serve the pasta hot, topped with vegan parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
💡Expert tips
Balance the lemon flavor: The key to this dish is achieving the perfect balance of tanginess and richness. Start with the juice of one lemon, taste, and then adjust. Remember, you can always add more lemon juice, but you can't take it away. A touch of agave syrup can help balance the acidity if the sauce becomes too tart.
Cook pasta to al dente: To ensure the ideal texture, cook the pasta until it's al dente, which means it should be tender but firm to the bite. This prevents the pasta from becoming mushy when it's tossed with the warm sauce.
Fresh ingredients make a difference: Use fresh lemons for the juice and zest, and if possible, fresh herbs for garnishing. The freshness of these ingredients elevates the dish, providing a burst of flavor that bottled lemon juice and dried herbs can't match.
🥢 How to serve
Garnish with Fresh Herbs: Sprinkle some additional fresh parsley or basil on top of the pasta for an extra burst of freshness and a pop of color.
Top with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes: Roast a handful of cherry tomatoes with a drizzle of olive oil, salt, and pepper until they burst with flavor. Serve them on top of the pasta to add a juicy and tangy element.
Sprinkle with Vegan Parmesan: If you prefer a cheesy touch, sprinkle some vegan parmesan or nutritional yeast on top of the pasta for a savory umami flavor while keeping the lemon noodles dairy-free.
Serve alongside a Fresh Green Salad: Balance the richness of the pasta by serving it alongside a crisp green spinach and arugula salad dressed with a light homemade vinaigrette. The fresh and crunchy greens will provide a refreshing contrast. You can also serve it with green beans with flaked toasted almonds; just use the same toasted almonds you used for the pasta, and add them to the briefly cooked green beans.
📖 Variations
Lemon Garlic Pasta with Roasted Vegetables: add veggies and enhance the nutritional profile of the dish by incorporating roasted vegetables. Toss some bell peppers, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and onions with olive oil, salt, and pepper, then roast them until tender. Mix the roasted veggies into the pasta for a burst of flavors and added texture.
Added protein: Boost the protein content by adding grilled tofu or crispy chickpeas to the dish. Marinate firm tofu in a mixture of lemon juice, garlic, and your choice of herbs, then grill until lightly charred. Slice the grilled tofu and serve it on top of the lemony garlic pasta for a satisfying and protein-packed meal.
Lemon Garlic Pasta with Carrot Tops Chimichurri: Prepare a zesty Carrot Tops Chimichurri, then generously drizzle it over the pasta. The herby and tangy flavors of the chimichurri perfectly complement the lemony garlic pasta, creating a delightful fusion of Argentinean and Mediterranean influences.
🥡 Storage
Place leftovers in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. It can be refrigerated for up to 3-4 days. Ensure that the pasta is completely cooled before storing it to maintain its freshness and texture.
Reheating: When it's time to reheat the pasta, there are a couple of options:
- Stovetop: Add a small amount of olive oil or vegetable broth to a pan over medium heat. Once heated, add the pasta and gently toss it until it is heated through. This method helps retain the flavors and texture of the pasta.
- Microwave: Transfer a portion of the pasta to a microwave-safe dish and cover it with a microwave-safe lid or microwave-safe wrap. Reheat in short intervals, stirring occasionally, until it is thoroughly heated.
🍷 Wine Pairing
- Italy - Sparkling - Prosecco
- New Zealand - Dry - Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough)
📚 More easy pasta recipes
If you are a pasta lover and feel like taking your pasta skills to the next level, we invite you to make your own fresh vegan homemade pasta dough and vegan pasta noodles without egg.
⭐ If you try this recipe, let us know! 💬 Leave a comment, rate it, and don't forget to tag us @ourplantbasedworld on Instagram. Cheers!
📋 Recipe
Easy Lemony Garlic Pasta
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ pound spaghetti gluten-free
- 10 ounces almonds Organic Raw
- ½ cup olive oil extra virgin, good quality
- 5 clove garlic
- 3 bunch parsley Italian, fresh and finely chopped
- 2 lemon both zest and juice
- 1 red chili small and chopped, pepperoncino
- 2 tablespoons coarse sea salt
- 4 tablespoons Nutritional Yeast or vegan Parmesan cheese
Optional:
- 2 tablespoon tequila
Directions
- Toast Almonds: In a flat pan, mix almonds, salt, and oil. Cook on medium-low until golden. For a touch of drama, give a splash of tequila, stir, then switch off the heat. Let the almonds chill out.
- Prep Garlic & Lemons: Turn those garlic cloves into fine slices. As for lemons, zest 'em, then juice 'em.
- Golden Garlic: Warm that fancy olive oil in a large skillet or wok-style pan. Keep it low, add the garlic, and once they hint golden, off goes the heat.
- Pasta Time: In a pot, let water, a bay leaf, and salt have a boiling party. Dive in that spaghetti but yank it out 2 minutes earlier than usual – you want it al dente. Why? 'Cause it'll keep dancing in the pan later.
- Chop & Juice: While spaghetti's getting its groove on, chop parsley and do the lemony tasks. Also, chop those cool almonds and rain some sea salt on 'em.
- Mix It Up: With trusty kitchen tongs, play mix-and-match with pasta, parsley, garlic-infused oil, and everything else in that pan. If you're feeling spicy, toss in the chili.
- Serve: Dish out the pasta piping hot, give it a nutritional yeast crown or vegan Parmesan if you're feeling regal. And there you go, a plate to impress! Enjoy, foodies!
Notes
- Italy - Sparkling - Prosecco
- New Zealand - Dry - Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough)
Nutrition Facts
Nutritional Disclaimer
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice. See our full Nutritional Disclosure here.
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Please note that some of the links here are affiliate links, and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links. I recommend all of the products listed because they are companies I have found helpful and trustworthy.
As the lead content writer and recipe developer at Our Plant-Based World, he combines his passion for health and sustainability with a Plant-Based Nutrition Certification to create accessible, delicious vegan recipes. His expertise in plant-based cooking supports the blog's mission of fostering a healthier, environmentally conscious lifestyle through simple and seasonal dishes. His commitment to making vegan cooking enjoyable and inclusive for everyone shines in each recipe and article.
Ashley Crane
No fair, you had wine! I had a Bubly!
Gus
hehe! Next time you can maybe follow one of the wine pairing recommendations 🙂
Ashley Crane
Making it, and am excited, but how do you incorporate chili? 🙂
Gus
Super! you just add it at the same time with the rest of the ingredients as you toss them.
Agus Camozzi
Love this recipe!!! 🙂
Gus
We are glad you like it! I understand you have already made it 3 times!!! Yey!
Anonymous
I feel a certain irony jajaja
Gus
oh! no, not at all. Sorry if it felt like that. I was truly suggesting trying out the wine pairings because they are really nice.