Jamie Oliver’s Lemon & Parmesan Pasta Is an Update on Buttered Noodles the Whole Family Will Love

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Whether it’s a crazy-busy week and we haven’t had time to grocery shop or menu plan, or if it’s just one of those nights when everyone in the house is craving simple comfort food, buttered noodles are always there for us. It’s a childhood favorite, but if we’re being honest, sometimes we do wish that this easy weeknight pasta meal could be a little it fresher. Well, leave it to Jamie Oliver, author of the upcoming Simply Jamie: Celebrate the Joy of Food, to find a way to put a fresh spin on this family favorite that everyone will still love.

In an Instagram post, Oliver told fans that this simple lemon and parmesan pasta is his wife’s “favorite pasta ever,” and also says that it’s made with the “simplest sauce ever in the world.” So, what goes into making this buttered noodles alternative?

First, Oliver combines most of the sauce ingredients in a bowl large enough that it will be able to fit your pasta and hold it while you toss it with tongs. The ingredients are simple, so use the best quality you can. In the bowl, Oliver adds lemon juice, lemon zest, and extra virgin olive oil — he prefers cold-pressed. Then comes the parmesan cheese. This is one recipe where you might want to break out that fancy bottle of olive oil you got for Christmas, and since you’re using lemon zest, it’s always a good idea to opt for organic lemons, which are usually unwaxed.

Then he cooks the pasta. On Instagram, he uses spaghetti, but in the recipe on his website, he calls for linguine — basically, the recipe is versatile enough to work with whatever your family’s favorite noodle shape is.

The key to creating this dish is that Oliver adds the cooked pasta, using tongs, straight from the pot to the bowl with the sauce ingredients in it. As the pasta gets vigorously tossed with the lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, and parmesan cheese, the starchy pasta water clinging to the noodles emulsifies the ingredients, and a creamy sauce forms. You can also add fresh basil and a handful of arugula for some fresh green flavor, and if your kids just won’t let the butter go, a pat on top wouldn’t be remiss.

It’s just as simple and cozy as the traditional buttered noodles with grated parmesan cheese from the green plastic shaker you’re used to, but with a vibrant flavor thanks to the fresh basil and lemon, and a heart-healthy boost thanks to the olive oil. Try it the next time you don’t feel like making an elaborate dinner, and you just might have a new go-to weeknight recipe.

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