Pasta al Burro e Aglio
The 15-minute dinner: noodles, butter, garlic, lemon — that's it.
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Join HomecookedIngredients
- 200 g Pasta
- 60 g Butter
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 1 Lemon
- 1 tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Black pepper
- ¼ tsp Red pepper flakes (optional)
Method
- Bring a pot of salted water to the boil.
- Mince the garlic and zest the lemon.
- Melt the butter in a wide pan over medium-low. Add garlic and cook gently for 2 minutes, no browning.
- Cook pasta to al dente.
- Drain pasta. Toss with butter, lemon zest, a squeeze of juice, black pepper, and chili flakes if using.
Nutrition per serving
Estimated from ingredients; varies with exact portions and brands.
About Pasta al Burro e Aglio
Pasta al burro e aglio is Italian cooking distilled to its calmest form: pasta, butter, garlic, and lemon, and little else. It sits in the same minimalist family as pasta al burro and aglio e olio, dishes that prove a handful of good ingredients handled with care beat a long list handled carelessly. The butter is melted gently with garlic over low heat so the garlic softens and sweetens without browning, building a mellow, glossy base rather than a sharp one.
The lemon is what lifts this version out of plain buttered noodles: zest for perfume and a squeeze of juice for acidity, both cutting the richness so the dish stays light on the palate. Black pepper and an optional pinch of chili flakes add a gentle bite. It's a fifteen-minute dinner that leans on technique over shopping, the sort of thing to make late on a weeknight or as a quiet first course. Toss it hot and eat it fast, while the butter still coats every strand.
Pasta al Burro e Aglio: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Pasta al Burro e Aglio?
One serving of Pasta al Burro e Aglio has about 603 calories, with 14g of protein, 79g of carbs, 26g of fat and 4g of fiber. These are estimates based on the ingredient amounts in this recipe and will vary with your exact portions and brands.
Is Pasta al Burro e Aglio gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Pasta. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
Is Pasta al Burro e Aglio dairy-free?
Not as written — it uses Butter. Swapping it for a plant-based alternative makes it dairy-free.
Do I need every ingredient to make Pasta al Burro e Aglio?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out red pepper flakes — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Pasta al Burro e Aglio make?
This recipe makes 2 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.