Monday, June 3, 2013

Lemon Fettuccine with Carrots

Now that the summer heat is here to stay (for a few months, anyway), I need to start looking for some lighter meals for hot summer days.

It seems with every new season, I find myself sitting at the computer browsing recipe sites and foodie blogs for new ideas to add to our already tried and true recipes.

Since I spend so much time outdoors with Grace during the warmer months, getting dinner on the table is often a challenge.  I use my crock pot a lot during the summer, allowing my dinner to cook all day while were playing outside.  But sometimes that gets a little old.

In an email last week, I saw a recipe I just knew we would love!  I checked my pantry and called Joe and had him pick up a couple lemons on his way home from work!  I made a couple of small changes that resulted in a perfect summer pasta dish, perfect for us!  I was also excited to have an excuse to use the fresh basil we just planted a couple of weeks ago!

I served it as a main dish that first night and we finished the entire pan of it between the two of us!  We loved it so much, I prepared it again the next night and served it as a side dish!



Lemon Fettuccine with Carrots
     inspired by:  Carrot Ribbon Fettuccine 

Ingredients:
  • 3/4 lb. Fettuccine 
  • 4 Tbs. olive oil, divided 
  • 1 clove garlic, finely chopped 
  • 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
  • 5 carrots, cut into ribbons with a vegetable peeler 
  • 2 fresh basil leaves, chopped 
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • 1/4 tsp. lemon zest 
Directions:  
  • Cook & drain pasta according to the direction on the box.  
  • In a large skillet, add garlic and red pepper flakes to 2 Tbs. of hot olive oil.  Cook over medium heat until fragrant. 
  • Add carrots and fresh basil to the skillet and saute.  
  • Combine the remaining 2 Tbs. olive oil with the juice of one lemon.  Stir in the lemon zest.  
  • When the carrots are slightly tender (or the tenderness that you desire), stir in the drained pasta.
  • Pour the oil/lemon juice mixture over the pasta and carrots, stirring until evenly coated.  
  • Serve either as an entree or side dish.    
Notes: 

  • The original recipe called for grated parmesan.  I'm not a fan, so I left it out.  
  • I also left out the salt, since we're cutting back on sodium.  
  • Also, since we're not much for garnishing our plates, I just added the basil to the pan when I cooked the carrots and added the lemon zest to the lemon juice/olive oil mixture before pouring it over the pasta.  
  • Since we omitted the salt, the crushed red pepper flakes were a delicious addition!  I love the combination of the lemon and spicy pepper flakes!  
I prepared this recipe twice last week and it's appearing again on this week's menu plan!  I think this recipe is a keeper!  


This recipe has been shared with the following blog carnivals and linky parties:




1 comment:

The Tumbleweed Contessa said...

This is perfect for a summer dinner. I am so glad I saw it on SaltTree. I hope you'll come share at my weekly party: http://www.tumbleweedcontessa.com/blog/whatd-you-do-this-weekend-18/

Best wishes for tasty dishes this week!

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