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Lemon Garlic Butter Pasta

My favorite lemony pasta dish with lots of butter, garlic, and olives
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Keyword garlic, lemon pasta, pasta, pasta recipes, rigatoni
Prep Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings 4
Author theforkedring

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 cup 00 Flour
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 sticks salted butter
  • 12 cloves garlic
  • 3 cups shredded parmesan
  • 1/2 cup lemon juice
  • 4 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 cup greek olives
  • 4 tbsp heavy cream

Instructions

  • Place flour in a large bowl and form a well in the center.
  • In another medium bowl, whisk together the eggs. Then, add to the well of the pasta bowl.
  • Slowly incorporate the eggs into the flour until a shaggy dough starts to come together. Then dump onto a clean work surface and knead until a cohesive dough forms.
  • Knead dough for another 10 minutes until smooth and a poke causes the pasta dough to spring back. Rest, covered, for at least 30 minutes.
  • When pasta is rested, remove from fridge and cut into 4 equal triangles. Coat the first piece in flour and cover the other three as you work.
  • Using a pasta machine, roll the pasta in a rectangle shape through each thickness setting until you reach level 5. Cut your long scarf of pasta into manageable pieces and then cut into equal 3" x 3" squares.
  • Using a gnocchi board and a wooden spoon handle, place the pasta dough, floured side up, on the gnocchi board. Place handle over the bottom and roll dough up to form a tube, pressing into the board's ridges.
  • Place each rigatoni tube standing up in a small pan, using the edges to stabilize them. Allow them to dry before cooking and repeat rolling and forming pasta portions until you have no dough left.
  • Heat a large stock pot of water over high heat. Meanwhile heat a nonstick sauté pan over medium heat and melt 4 tbsp butter.
  • Add 4 cloves of finely chopped garlic to the butter and stir as it sizzles. When your pasta pot is boiling, add a small handful of salt to the water.
  • Cook 1/4 of the pasta for 2-3 minutes until floating and al-dente. Immediately transfer pasta to the butter and garlic and shake to combine.
  • Add 3/4 cup grated parmesan, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1/4 cup Greek olives, and 1 tbsp heavy cream. Shake pan to combine. If you need to thin your sauce, add a couple tablespoons of pasta water.
  • Plate pasta and garnish with more parmesan and herbs. Repeat boiling pasta and making sauce for the other 3 portions.

Notes

  • If you don't have a gnocchi board, roll your tubes on a wooden spoon handle on the countertop. 
  • Always flour both sides of the pasta squares before rolling on the gnocchi board to prevent sticking to both the board and the wooden handle.
  • I always season my pasta to taste after it's done with sea salt and pepper. An extra drizzle of olive oil doesn't hurt either!