Zesty Creamy Lemon Orecchiette with Crispy Pangrattato Recipe

Pasta lovers find pure bliss in this creamy lemon orecchiette with crispy pangrattato that combines unexpected textures and bright Mediterranean flavors.

Subtle citrus notes dance across silky noodles, creating a symphony of taste.

Crusty breadcrumbs add delightful crunch to each delectable bite.

Quick and elegant, this dish feels like a secret culinary adventure waiting to unfold.

Lightweight yet satisfying, the recipe promises to transport you straight to an Italian kitchen.

Simple ingredients blend into something extraordinary that will make your taste buds sing.

You’ll want to savor every single morsel of this irresistible meal.

Why This Lemon Orecchiette Is So Comforting

• Culinary Adventure: Dive into a delightful pasta experience that combines creamy textures with zesty lemon and crispy pangrattato for a mouthwatering meal.
• Quick and Satisfying: Prepare a restaurant-quality dish in just a few simple steps, perfect for busy home cooks looking for a delicious dinner solution.
• Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Impress both family and guests with a sophisticated yet approachable pasta that balances rich, tangy, and crunchy flavor profiles.
• Gourmet Touch at Home: Elevate your cooking skills with a recipe that brings together classic Italian ingredients like pancetta, Pecorino, and homemade pangrattato for a professional-level dish.

What’s Inside This Creamy Lemon Pasta Dish

• Orecchiette: Traditional Italian shell-shaped pasta that perfectly captures the creamy sauce.

• Pancetta: Italian cured pork that adds a rich, salty flavor to the dish.
• Pecorino Cheese: Sharp and tangy Italian sheep's milk cheese that provides depth to the sauce.
• Heavy Cream: Adds luxurious richness and helps create a smooth, velvety sauce.

• Garlic, Onion: Classic aromatic vegetables that build a foundational flavor profile.
• Thyme: Herbaceous and earthy herb that complements the creamy sauce.
• Lemon Zest, Lemon Juice: Bright citrus elements that cut through the richness and add freshness.

• Peas: Sweet and tender green vegetable that adds color and light sweetness.

• Panko Breadcrumbs: Crispy Japanese-style breadcrumbs that provide a crunchy texture contrast.
• Olive Oil: Helps toast the breadcrumbs and adds a subtle richness.
• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance the overall flavor of the pangrattato.

• Lemon Wedges: Fresh citrus garnish that allows diners to adjust the sauce's brightness.

How to Make Lemon Orecchiette with Pangrattato

Step 1: Boil Pasta Perfectly

Fill a large pot with water and add a generous pinch of salt. Toss in the orecchiette and cook following the package instructions until the pasta reaches that perfect al dente texture.

This means the pasta should have a slight bite and not be mushy.

Step 2: Create Flavor Base

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and melt butter until it starts to bubble.

• Pancetta
• Fresh thyme leaves
• Minced garlic
• Chopped onion

Sauté the mixture for 2-3 minutes, allowing the onions to become soft and translucent, releasing their sweet aroma.

Step 3: Brighten with Citrus

Sprinkle in fresh lemon zest and squeeze in lemon juice.

Let the sauce simmer briefly, allowing the citrusy notes to infuse into the buttery base.

Step 4: Create Creamy Sauce

Pour in peas and heavy cream.

Simmer the mixture for about 2 minutes, watching as the sauce begins to thicken and coat the back of a spoon.

Step 5: Make Crunchy Pangrattato

In a separate sauté pan over medium-low heat, warm olive oil.

Add panko breadcrumbs and season with salt and pepper. Toast the breadcrumbs, stirring constantly for 3-4 minutes until they turn a beautiful golden brown.

Remove from heat and stir in lemon zest and thyme.

Step 6: Combine and Coat

Grate Pecorino cheese directly into the sauce.

Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the skillet. Toss everything together, ensuring each pasta shell gets completely coated with the creamy, lemony sauce.

Step 7: Serve and Garnish

Sprinkle the crispy pangrattato over the top of the pasta. Add a few lemon wedges on the side for an extra burst of freshness.

Serve immediately, straight from the skillet, while everything is hot and the breadcrumbs are still crunchy.

Tips for Creamy Pasta with That Crunchy Finish

• Toast panko breadcrumbs carefully to achieve a golden, crispy texture without burning, watching the pan closely during cooking.
• Substitute pancetta with bacon or omit for a vegetarian version, ensuring similar flavor depth by adding extra herbs or garlic.
• Use fresh lemon zest and juice for brighter, more vibrant citrus notes that enhance the overall dish's flavor profile.
• Select high-quality Pecorino cheese for a rich, tangy finish that complements the creamy sauce and adds depth to each bite.
• Cook pasta just until al dente to maintain a perfect texture that absorbs the sauce while retaining a slight firmness.

Swaps and Styles for Your Lemon Orecchiette

• Green Pea Power: Replace pancetta with crispy edamame and swap heavy cream for coconut milk, creating a lighter, plant-based version packed with protein.
• Mediterranean Magic: Add roasted red peppers, swap Pecorino for feta cheese, and incorporate chopped kalamata olives for a Greek-inspired transformation.
• Seafood Sensation: Introduce sautéed shrimp or crab meat instead of pancetta, enhancing the dish with oceanic flavors and delicate protein.
• Spicy Herb Remix: Include red pepper flakes, swap thyme for fresh basil, and garnish with chopped parsley to create a zesty, herb-forward rendition.

What to Serve with Lemon Orecchiette Pasta

• Enhance Zesty Pasta Pleasure: Perfect Pairings
• Crisp White Wine Companion: Select a bright, acidic Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc that complements the lemon's tanginess and cuts through the creamy sauce's richness.
• Fresh Green Salad Sidekick: Prepare a light arugula salad with shaved Parmesan, dressed in a simple lemon vinaigrette to echo the pasta's citrus notes and provide a crisp contrast.
• Mediterranean Herb Roasted Vegetables: Grill zucchini, bell peppers, and eggplant with olive oil, rosemary, and garlic to create a warm vegetable medley that harmonizes with the pasta's savory pancetta and creamy texture.

How to Store and Reheat Lemon Pasta Leftovers

• Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Seal completely to prevent moisture and odors from affecting the pasta's taste.
• Freeze: Transfer cooled pasta to freezer-safe containers, removing as much air as possible. Keeps well for 1-2 months. Avoid freezing dishes with pangrattato topping.
• Reheat Stovetop: Warm gently in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of cream or water to restore moisture. Stir frequently to prevent sticking and maintain creamy texture.
• Microwave Option: Place portion in microwave-safe dish, cover with damp paper towel. Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each to distribute heat evenly. Add small amount of cream if pasta looks dry.

Common Questions About Creamy Lemon Orecchiette

• What is pangrattato?

Pangrattato is an Italian breadcrumb topping made by toasting breadcrumbs in olive oil with herbs and seasonings, creating a crunchy texture that adds flavor and contrast to pasta dishes.

• Can I substitute pancetta with another ingredient?

Yes, you can use bacon or prosciutto as alternatives to pancetta, which will provide a similar salty and savory flavor profile to the dish.

• How do I prevent the cream sauce from breaking?

Keep the heat low and stir continuously when adding cream. Remove the pan from direct heat if it starts to simmer too aggressively to maintain a smooth, creamy consistency.

Creamy Lemon Orecchiette with Crispy Pangrattato Recipe

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4.8 from 29 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Zesty “Creamy Lemon Orecchiette with Crispy Pangrattato” delivers Italian comfort with bright, tangy pasta perfection. Rich parmesan and herbed breadcrumbs elevate this simple yet sophisticated Mediterranean-inspired dish you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Pasta Ingredients:

• 1 pound (454 grams) orecchiette
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream
• 1 cup (100 grams) grated pecorino
• 3/4 cup (120 grams) pancetta cubes
• 2 cups (300 grams) frozen peas, thawed

Cheese and Dairy:

• 1 stick (8 tablespoons or 113 grams) salted butter

Seasoning and Aromatics:

• 2 lemons, zested and juiced
• 1/2 yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, minced
• Kosher salt

Pangrattato (Crispy Crumbs):

• 1/2 cup (60 grams) panko breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) olive oil
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 lemon, cut into wedges, for garnish

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Instructions

1. Fill a spacious pot with salted water and bring to a rolling boil, then cook orecchiette until perfectly tender with a slight bite, approximately 8-9 minutes.
2. Warm a large skillet over medium heat, gently melt butter, then introduce pancetta, thyme, minced garlic, and diced onion, sautéing for 2-3 minutes until aromatics become translucent and fragrant.
3. Infuse the skillet with bright lemon zest and freshly squeezed juice, allowing the citrus notes to permeate the mixture for a brief moment.
4. Fold in sweet green peas and rich heavy cream, letting the sauce simmer and gradually thicken for roughly 2 minutes, creating a luxurious consistency.
5. Simultaneously prepare the pangrattato by heating olive oil in a separate pan over medium-low temperature, then add panko breadcrumbs seasoned with salt and pepper, toasting until achieving a golden, crispy texture.
6. Remove pangrattato from heat, delicately incorporate additional lemon zest and thyme to enhance the aromatic profile.
7. Integrate grated Pecorino into the creamy sauce, then drain the pasta and transfer it directly into the skillet, thoroughly coating each orecchiette with the velvety mixture.
8. Generously scatter the crispy pangrattato over the dish and garnish with vibrant lemon wedges, serving immediately while piping hot to preserve the optimal texture and temperature.

Notes

• Make sure to salt the pasta water generously to enhance the overall flavor profile of the dish.
• Toast panko breadcrumbs slowly and carefully to achieve a perfect golden-brown color without burning.
• For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or Greek yogurt to reduce calories.
• Vegetarian option: Replace pancetta with crispy mushrooms or smoked tofu for added protein and texture.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 750
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 45 g
• Saturated Fat: 25 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 70 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 20 g
• Cholesterol: 120 mg