6.20.2013

Spaghetti with Mascarpone, Meyer Lemon, Spinach, and Hazelnuts


I rarely order pasta when dining out.....mainly because the pasta portions restaurants serve are g-normous. Who could eat all that? But making it at home is a different matter. With dishes like this, you have control over portion size and while I am not a huge pasta eater, now and then I like to make easy pasta recipes. One of my favorites is Ina Garten's summer pasta, which I posted recently. And now I've found another, perfect for one or two. While we prefer the nutty taste of whole wheat pasta in my family, this recipe caught my eye and I bought regular spaghetti to make it. Makes for a prettier presentation with the mascarpone sauce. It was lemony and altogether fabulous. Love the crunch from the hazelnuts.


Spaghetti with Mascarpone, Meyer Lemon, Spinach, and Hazelnuts

Slightly adapted from The Kitchn


Ingredients:

1 Meyer lemon, zested and juiced (about 3 tablespoons juice) 
1/2 cup mascarpone cheese
1 small garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
a few grinds of fresh pepper
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 pound spaghetti
5 cups (loosely packed) fresh spinach, washed, spun dry, and roughly chopped
1/2 cup chopped, toasted hazelnuts

Method:

Combine the zest, lemon juice, mascarpone, garlic, salt, pepper, and nutmeg in a bowl. Whisk to combine.

Bring a pot of water to boil and salt generously. Cook the pasta until al dente, taking it off the heat about 1 to 2 minutes before you would normally remove it. Drain, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water.

Return the pasta to the pot, and set over low heat. Stir in the mascarpone sauce. Add the spinach and toss so that the spinach begins to wilt. If you need to, add some pasta water to keep the sauce somewhat fluid. (I didn't) Continue to cook and toss until the spinach is cooked. Add the hazelnuts and stir to combine. Serve immediately.
Serves two.


19 comments:

  1. I've become a bit obsessed with mascarpone lately so I am loving this pasta dish! Mmmm.

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  2. Absolutely scrumptious! This refined pasta dish must taste amazing.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  3. 2 weeks in Italy, we sure ate a lot of incredible pasta dishes, some that I hope to recreate too. your summer pasta has all the elements that I love--especially the crunch of hazelnuts.

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  4. I would eat pasta every day if my waistline could tolerate it! This looks SO good.

    One tip I got from a friend when making creamy lemon pasta - zest and juice your lemons, and put the shells in the boiling water with the pasta. It adds extra flavour.

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  5. This looks delicious for summer. I've found that in most restaurants, one can ask for a half order of a pasta dish. Now to locate some hazlenuts.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  6. Bookmarked this right away... a perfect pasta dish. I remember seeing a recipe for marscarpone recently that was such a breeze to make. This dish has all my favorites in it, Barbara. Even though the calorie count is murderous, I think we all deserve a little richness from time to time!

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  7. Oh my goodness. I want to go home and make it right now!!

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  8. I wish I were more like you--I CAN eat a gigantic plate of pasta. And this pasta looks fantastic. Can't go wrong with Ina.

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  9. Oh yes, my! I'll have a bowl of that alright. A big bowl!

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  10. look absolutely delicious Barbara!love it!

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  11. Mi querida Barbara esta receta es lo máximo luce muy deliciosa adoro las pasta,saludos y abrazos.

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  12. i'm only now beginning to appreciate nuts in my pasta. this is a sophisticated and stunning dish, barbara!

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  13. You have me at rich creamy mascarpone sauce! The spaghetti looks fabulous!

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  14. What a delicious combination of flavors.

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  15. Pasta is once a while for us but after seeing your version, I am at a jump start position to make the same at home.

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  16. Bookmarked this to make while on vacation with my family next week!

    perfect...

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  17. There is something so perfect about marscapone in this :D

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

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  18. Just when I said to myself "you've got to quit eating so much pasta", you go and post a recipe that sounds incredibly delicious. :)

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  19. this is a stunning recipe! I love the ingredients - unusual and absolutely delicious - I can't wait to try this!
    Mary x

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