Description
Indulgent cavatappi pasta brings Italian culinary magic to home kitchens with rich, cheesy goodness. Creamy sauce and perfectly cooked noodles invite you to savor each comforting bite of this classic comfort dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cavatappi pasta
Dairy and Cheese:
- 3/4 cup (180 milliliters) heavy cream
- 1/2 cup (50 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon (14 grams) unsalted butter
Seasonings and Additions:
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup (150 grams) frozen peas (optional)
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with water, generously salt, and bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
- Add cavatappi to boiling water, cooking until just shy of al dente, approximately 8-9 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup starchy pasta water before draining.
- In a spacious skillet, melt butter over medium heat until it becomes frothy and fragrant.
- Quickly sauté minced garlic until its aroma fills the kitchen, roughly 30 seconds.
- Gently pour heavy cream into the skillet, seasoning with salt and pepper. Allow the mixture to simmer and gradually thicken.
- Gradually incorporate Parmesan cheese, stirring continuously until completely melted and smooth.
- Splash in fresh lemon juice, whisking to create a harmonious sauce.
- Place frozen peas in a colander and drain the hot pasta directly over them to slightly warm the peas.
- Fold the pasta and peas into the creamy sauce, introducing reserved pasta water as needed to achieve a luxurious, silky consistency.
- Taste and adjust seasoning, sprinkle additional Parmesan on top, and serve immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Choose high-quality Parmesan for maximum flavor richness and smooth melting texture.
- Reserve extra pasta water strategically to control sauce consistency and help pasta bind perfectly.
- Toast garlic briefly to release aromatic oils without burning, creating deeper flavor complexity.
- Experiment with alternative cheeses like pecorino or gruyere for unique taste variations while maintaining creamy profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 60mg