A Unique Tasty Recipe for Lemon Pasta

This lemon pasta recipe (The Simple Veganista) is akin more to how Italians eat pasta. They don’t pour a jar of watery Dolmio sauce over spaghetti, and call it a meal. In Italy, pasta is more often the first course, but this meal is substantial enough for a proper supper.

Before cooking, read our post on food safety for people and pets (keep salt and lemons away from animal friends). 

Here at England, Naturally – we’re passionate about sharing simple tasty plant-based recipes. And why? Because this site is all about taking back communities from ‘big business’ (whether that’s food brands or big stores).

Although it’s best to shop at farm shops and independent health shops, it’s also the case that realistically, most people have to shop at supermarkets, whether that’s for budget, or because there’s nothing else left!

So by learning to cook a few proper tasty nutritious dinners using affordable ingredients that you can buy from any store, you then free yourself from ‘plastic ready-meal kingdom’. This recipe tastes better than any jar of tomato sauce, and you’ll be eating fresh food, just like our Italian friends!

This is such a simple recipe. Go and buy the ingredients today, and by tonight, you will have mastered a favourite weeknight dish!

All you need to do is fry up some fresh garlic and dried red pepper flakes in vegan butter (all brands of Flora are free from palm oil). Or olive oil, if you prefer.

While your pasta is cooking, just squeeze and zest your lemons. Then it’s a simple case of tossing the pasta in the flavoured oil, lemon juice, zest and fresh parsley. And seasoning with sea salt and freshly-ground pepper.

This is so cheap and tasty! When you fry garlic and pepper in oil, this gives a lovely tasty base, like when you eat pasta in a restaurant. The ingredients won’t ‘slide off the spaghetti’ like watery tomato sauce does.

Lemons are rich in vitamin C, and fresh parsley is also nutritious. And if you buy the lemons and parsley loose (and choose a plastic-free pasta, see below) this is almost a zero-waste meal too!

And as we all know, pasta is very filling! To avoid food waste, it’s worth investing in one of those pasta measure things (you can find them in any kitchen shop). This is useful if you are only cooking for one or two – otherwise you may well end up accidentally cooking pasta for ten! We’ve all done it.

What Brand of Pasta to Use?

The Yorkshire Pasta Company and Northern Pasta Co are both home-grown brands that use British wheat, and sell in paper (not plastic packaging). We think either of these are a great idea to support local farmers, and avoid plastic waste.

How to Cook Pasta (like the Italians)

Bring a pan of water to a rolling boil, and salt the water before adding pasta. Unless you have a medical condition. Not salting water in Italy when cooking, makes it ‘silly pasta!’ You will notice the difference in taste.

Serve with Plant-Based Parmesan

Everything tastes better with a little grated cheese on top. But Parmesan is not even vegetarian, as by law it contains a cheese made with calf rennet.

Instead, just grate your favourite vegan cheese on top. Or learn to make plant-based parmesan! It’s very simple, and once mastered, you’ll never go back!