Rosemary Lemon Pasta

rosemary lemon pasta rosemary lemon pasta

A trip to Italy is in the works. Did I just say that? Ok, an idea of a trip to Italy is in the works. You’re the second to know… I just informed Jack the other night.

Even though we have a long list of places we have not been to, somehow every few years we (the royal we) feel a calling to go back. Whenever I even hear someone mention a trip to Italy, I become insane with travel envy.

So you can imagine the kind of envy I felt when I heard the story of a couple who moved to the Italian countryside, restored an olive grove and started an artisanal olive oil business. (and with the cutest designs for their packaging, I might add!).

rosemary lemon pasta

I had the privilege of trying an assortment of their olive oils, sent quarterly, from the Nudo Adopt an Olive Tree program. My favorite (surprise, surprise), was the one flavored with stone ground lemons. It was absolutely perfect for a simple pasta like this. Which I enhanced, of course, with more lemon. And lemon zest.

It’s as if I love lemons or something.

rosemary lemon pasta

 
Author:
Serves: serves 2
Ingredients
  • 4-6 ounces spaghetti or linguini pasta
  • (reserve some pasta water)
  • ¼ cup panko bread crumbs
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
  • 2 cups chopped collard greens, stems removed
  • ½ -1 clove minced garlic
  • 1-2 lemons (plus some zest)
  • a few tablespoons olive oil
  • a dab of butter (optional)
  • sliced almond, toasted
  • red pepper flakes
  • salt
Instructions
  1. Cook your pasta in salty boiling water until al dente.
  2. While your pasta cooks, get out a medium/large skillet and toast the panko, rosemary and a pinch of salt. When the panko starts to brown a little bit, remove it from the pan and set aside.
  3. Wipe out the pan and add drizzle of olive oil, the collard greens, a few pinches of salt, a bit of garlic and a good squeeze of lemon. Cook until they're mostly wilted (a few minutes). Add the pasta, and toss with a small dab of butter, a squeeze of lemon, and some reserved pasta water if necessary to loosen it up. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil.
  4. Remove from heat and toss with the rosemary-panko mixture, toasted almonds, a bit of lemon zest and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Taste, adjust seasonings.
Notes
Feel free to sub other greens (kale, chard, etc), and other herbs. If you add leafy herbs (such as basil), add it at the very end, rather than toasting it with the breadcrumbs.

(this post is in partnership with Nudo Italia, all opinions are my own).

36 comments

Leave a comment:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rate this recipe (after making it):  

  1. Elizabeth Wilson
    10.07.2017

    New vegan here, looking for recipes that appeal before I get too freaked out about never having good food again. This sounds absolutely delish and I can’t wait to try it! Thanks.

  2. Lachlan
    07.10.2013

    Just cooked this one up and my wife and I loved it! ‘Zesty’ is certainly the best adjective to describe this one. Perfect for a hot summer’s night. I found one lemon did the job well – could taste it but it didn’t overwhelm. Thanks very much for the recipe! This one’s going in the cookbook folder.

    • jeanine
      07.11.2013

      so glad you liked it, honored to make it to the cookbook folder!

  3. Rachel Marie
    06.14.2013

    O goodness, thank you for posting this recipe; I made it last night for my husband and I and it was DELICIOUS! It truly was a perfect summer meal with the lemon and rosemary. I actually added shrimp for some extra protein as I hadn’t had any for a few meals, and it paired very well.

    • jeanine
      06.17.2013

      Hi Rachel,

      So glad you liked it! Sounds delicious with shrimp 🙂

  4. Julie
    05.20.2013

    Just made this for supper… it was a zesty hit! Great combination, thanks!

  5. Ooo….that sounds tasty! Especially the combination of almonds, pasta and lemons…..yummy. Thanks for sharing, can’t wait to try this for my parents this weekend!

  6. Those bottles are the cutest! I have the same I-need-to-travel-because-you-did envy. There are just so many beautiful and inspirational places in the world. I want to see them all!! This pasta sounds perfect for a quick weeknight meal. Pinned!

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.