Lemony Bucatini Recipes

BUCATINI AL LIMONE

Steps:

• Prepare a bowl of ice water and set aside. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the green beans and cook until bright green and just barely cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes. Use a spider or strainer to transfer the green beans to the ice bath and let cool completely before draining. Add the bucatini to the same pot of boiling water. Let cook to al dente, about 3 minutes less than the package instructions.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Cook the garlic and red pepper flakes until fragrant but not browned, about 1 minute, then add the lemon zest and juice and approximately 1/4 cup pasta water.
• Use tongs to transfer the pasta directly to the saute pan. Add the butter and blanched green beans, then toss to coat the pasta and beans in the sauce. Keep cooking, tossing, until the pasta is al dente and the sauce is glossy and thickened, about 3 minutes more. Turn off the heat and gradually stir in the Pecorino, tossing constantly. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• Divide pasta among 4 serving bowls and garnish with the parsley, more Pecorino and a drizzle of olive oil.

LEMONY BUCATINI

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add three handfuls of kosher salt to the water. Taste the water, it should be as salty as the sea. Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the package.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Put the torn bread in a medium bowl. Drizzle with the olive oil, season with salt and pepper and toss to combine. Spread on a baking sheet and broil until toasted, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Pulse the broiled bread in a food processor until fine crumbs form. Set aside.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Once the butter has melted, add the red pepper flakes and cook for 2 minutes.
• Drain the pasta and reserve 2 cups of the pasta water. Add the pasta to the skillet and toss to combine.
• Add a small handful of the Parmigiano-Reggiano, toss the pasta and then add a splash of the lemon juice. Alternate adding the remaining cheese and lemon juice until combined. Add some of the reserved pasta water, if needed.
• Add the lemon zest and toss to combine. Taste and season with salt and pepper, if necessary.
• Transfer the pasta to a large bowl and top with the mint, parsley, thyme and breadcrumbs. Enjoy.

CREAMY BUCATINI WITH SPRING ONIONS AND MINT

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over high heat. Add pasta and cook until it is just shy of al dente, usually 2 minutes less than the package instructions. Reserve about 1 cup pasta water for the sauce (a coffee mug is good for this), then drain the pasta.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown at the edges and thoroughly soft, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Add heavy cream, rosemary, 1/2 teaspoon salt, red-pepper flakes, and a few grinds black pepper to the pan, and bring to a simmer. Let cream reduce and thicken, 2 to 4 minutes.
• Reduce heat to low and stir in Pecorino Romano until combined. Add the drained pasta and about 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water. Toss well to coat the pasta. If the sauce is too thick, add pasta water by the tablespoon; if it's too thin, let it bubble and reduce for a minute or so. Remove from heat and stir in lemon zest and chives. Taste and add more salt, if needed.
• Serve in bowls, each topped with more chives, mint, a generous amount of black pepper and a sprinkle of pistachios.

BUCATINI WITH CAULIFLOWER, CAPERS, AND LEMON

Steps:

• Heat broiler with rack 8 inches from heating element. Combine pasta, 5 cups water, 2 tablespoons oil, oregano sprig, pepper flakes, and 2 teaspoons salt in a large, straight-sided ovenproof skillet. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until sauce is mostly reduced and pasta is al dente, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in lemon zest and juice.
• In a bowl, toss cauliflower with remaining 2 tablespoons oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt, capers, Parmesan, and oregano leaves. Sprinkle over pasta in skillet. Broil until cauliflower is golden in spots and pasta is heated through, about 5 minutes. Toss to combine. Serve with more cheese and pepper flakes, a drizzle of oil, and lemon wedges.