Browned Butter Lemon Dill Pasta Recipe
A rich and flavorful Browned Butter Lemon Dill Pasta featuring perfectly cooked pasta in a creamy browned butter sauce brightened with fresh lemon and dill, topped with Parmesan cheese. This dish combines nutty browned butter with citrusy freshness and herbaceous notes for a simple yet elegant weeknight meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb pasta (bucatini, rigatoni, etc.)
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 medium lemon, zested and juiced
- 3 tablespoons minced fresh dill
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Additional grated Parmesan for topping
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil the pasta in salted water until it is nearly al dente, as it will finish cooking in the sauce. Reserve 2 cups of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta and setting it aside temporarily.
- Braise Butter: In a large skillet set over medium heat, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter. Swirl the pan occasionally and cook until the butter is a deep golden brown and fragrant, about 3-5 minutes. This creates the characteristic browned butter flavor.
- Create Sauce Base: Add 1 cup of the reserved pasta water to the browned butter mixture and bring it to a simmer over medium heat. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter one tablespoon at a time, stirring constantly until the sauce is creamy and cohesive.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked pasta, grated Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, and lemon zest to the skillet. Continue cooking over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and coats the pasta nicely, about 3-5 minutes. Add splashes of the remaining pasta water as needed to adjust the sauce consistency.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the minced fresh dill. Season the pasta with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve the pasta warm with extra grated Parmesan sprinkled on top to finish.
Notes
- Use pasta shapes like bucatini or rigatoni that hold sauce well for best results.
- Be careful not to burn the browned butter; remove from heat if it starts to smoke.
- Adjust pasta water quantity to achieve your preferred sauce thickness.
- Fresh dill should be added at the end to preserve its bright flavor.
- This pasta is best served immediately for optimal texture and flavor.
Keywords: browned butter, lemon pasta, dill pasta, creamy pasta, Italian pasta dish, quick dinner, easy pasta recipe
