Best Creamy Cavatappi for a Quick and Luxurious Dinner
This Creamy Cavatappi is a 20-minute weeknight win. Featuring a silky Parmesan and heavy cream sauce with a hint of lemon and sweet peas, it is a luxurious yet simple meal.
- Prep Time: 7 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 22 mins
- Yield: 3 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
8 ounces cavatappi pasta
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup reserved pasta cooking water
Instructions
1. Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until just short of al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
2. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat and sauté minced garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant.
3. Slowly stir in the heavy cream, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 3 minutes until slightly thickened.
4. Lower heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese a little at a time until melted. Add lemon juice.
5. Drain the pasta and peas (using the hot pasta to thaw the peas in a colander).
6. Toss the pasta and peas into the sauce skillet. Add reserved pasta water and toss over medium heat for 3-5 minutes until the sauce coats the noodles perfectly.
Notes
Always use freshly grated Parmesan for a smooth sauce.
Reserve more pasta water than you think you need to adjust the consistency.
Serve immediately as cream-based sauces thicken quickly upon cooling.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 238
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Find it online: https://www.flavourrecipe.com/creamy-cavatappi/