Garlic Oil Pasta with Fresh Spinach and Lemon
Ingredients
- 12 ouncespasta (any shape)
- 6 cupsfresh spinach (loosely packed)
- 4 clovesgarlic
- ¼ cupolive oil
- 1lemon
- ·kosher salt
- ·black pepper
- ¼ teaspoonred pepper flakes (optional)
Prep
- 01
Mince 4 cloves garlic.
- 02
Zest 1 lemon and cut it in half for juicing.
Method
- 01
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 9-11 minutes. Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining.
- 02
While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, stirring constantly to avoid burning.
- 03
Add fresh spinach to the skillet in batches, stirring gently, until wilted, about 2-3 minutes total. Season with salt and pepper.
- 04
Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss gently. Pour in 1/2 cup reserved pasta water and stir to coat. Add more pasta water a splash at a time if needed for a light, silky sauce.
- 05
Zest the lemon directly over the pasta, then squeeze in juice to taste. Toss again. Top with red pepper flakes if desired and serve immediately.
Spice Tips
For subtle warmth, use 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes as written. For more heat, increase to 1/2 teaspoon. A pinch of nutmeg (1/8 teaspoon) adds unexpected depth if you'd like earthy richness.