I have to say I’m really dumb. I underestimated buttered noodles as something that only kids ate. Although simple is sometimes grouped as being SIMPLE, it can still hit home like my version of buttered pasta. I say “MY” version, but someone (Instagram: @vasmithathambi) suggested their recipe to me, and I tweaked it slightly. There is not much to screw up in this recipe. With that being said, someone can definitely screw up this recipe. So here are some tips. Use more butter than you think you need. That’s what carries this entire dish, and don’t be afraid to season your pasta water well and use it for thickening the sauce. The starch in the water helps bring everything together when all the water boils off in the pan. Finally, don’t skip the lemon in the recipe; it lifts everything up and adds brightness to the dish. Keep it simple. Keep it elegant.
Ingredients
- 75 g of Spaghetti or any other long pasta
- 20-30 g of Butter
- 1 tbsp of Olive Oil
- 5-6 chopped Garlic cloves
- 1/2 tsp of Paprika
- 1/2 tsp of dried Herbs
- A squeeze of Lemon juice
- A grating of Parmesan cheese (or use one cheese slice instead)
- Salt & pepper to taste
Procedure
- In a saucepan, boil salted water, and add your pasta and cook for 7-8 mins.
- Meanwhile, in a frying pan, add a touch of oil & all the butter. Let the butter melt, and add the garlic.
- Saute till translucent (do not brown), and add the paprika and mixed herbs.
- Saute till aromatic, and add a cup of pasta water to the pan, and let it reduce. Once slightly reduced, add the lemon juice.
- Drain your pasta (reserve another cup of pasta water), and add it to the pan. Add more pasta water, and let the sauce reduce until it’s clinging to the pasta.
- Turn off the heat, add the cheese, and mix well.
- Serve it onto a plate and garnish it with some olive oil, more cheese, and black pepper.