Artichoke Pasta

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This lemon artichoke pasta recipe is what summer dreams are made of. An ode to artichoke season, a quick and easy meatless weeknight pasta that checks all the flavor boxes.

Lemon Artichoke Pasta

Artichoke Pasta

Chewy spaghettini noodles are coated in a rich, creamy and zesty lemon artichoke sauce. A fabulous way to make use of a can of artichoke hearts from the pantry besides just the classic spinach and artichoke dip, risotto or pizza Bianca topping.

No meat, no dairy, the dish is best finished with a good sprinkling of thinly sliced basil (chiffonade), mild onion chives, extra lemon wedges or a grating of dairy free parmesan.

artichoke pasta

Artichoke Sauce

Artichoke hearts, freshly squeezed lemon juice and olive oil are processed into a naturally creamy and lemony sauce that is mixed with lots of sautéed garlic and a sprinkling of capers. A naturally vegan, gluten free and dairy free sauce. Freshly steamed, frozen or canned artichokes can be used interchangeably here so use whatever you’ve got.

The Pasta

I happen to be really fond of a bronze drawn durum wheat semolina spaghettini here. The rougher texture helps the sauce adhere to it perfectly and provides the ideal thickness between capellini and spaghetti. All things considered, many different pasta shapes will work here. Bronze drawn bucatini or linguine offer a toothsome bite, short shape pasta like chewy orecchiette “little ears”, conchiglie “shells”, lumache rigate “snails” can be used to turn this into a pasta salad.

artichoke pasta

Tips + FAQ

  • Do you have to rinse canned artichokes? – Always drain and rinse the canning liquid. It’s basically a salty acidic brine that you don’t want interfering with the flavor profile of your dish.
  • Are frozen artichokes better than canned? – Both will work great in this recipe. Since the frozen ones are picked at their peak and flash frozen they did not sit in a brine so they have a more pure and floral aroma, much like a freshly steamed one.
  • Add Ins – grilled asparagus, zucchini, green peas, sun dried tomatoes, mushrooms, caramelized leeks, toasted pine nuts, roasted broccoli, marinated roasted peppers.

artichoke pasta with lemon, garlic and capers.

Serving suggestions

how to make artichoke pastaLemon Artichoke Pasta

Lemon Artichoke Pasta
5 from 2 votes

Artichoke Pasta

This lemon artichoke pasta recipe is what summer dreams are made of. An ode to artichoke season, a quick and easy meatless weeknight pasta that checks all the flavor boxes.
Print Recipe
Prep Time:10 minutes
Cook Time:10 minutes
Total Time:20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 14 oz can artichoke hearts (in brine not oil or frozen)
  • 2 lemons (juiced & zested) + more as needed
  • 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 5 cloves garlic grated
  • 3 tsp capers (brined) (optional)
  • 8 oz spaghettini noodles (or your favorite pasta)
  • 1/4 cup reserved pasta water
  • S + P to taste
  • Garnish: basil + onion chives (parsley or pesto drizzle)

Instructions

Artichoke Sauce

  • Drain and rinse the artichoke hearts. Add them to the bowl of a food processor together with the olive oil, the juice from 2 large lemons and a pinch of salt. Process until creamy to your liking.
    14 oz can artichoke hearts, 2 lemons, 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, S + P to taste
  • Preheat a large skillet over medium heat with a drizzle of olive oil. Add the capers and grated garlic and cook about a minute or so until the garlic is fragrant. Take care not to burn it.
    3 tsp capers (brined), 5 cloves garlic
  • Pour the blended artichoke sauce into the pan with the garlic and stir to combine well. Taste and season with extra salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Remove from heat.
    S + P to taste

Cook the Pasta

  • Meanwhile bring a pot of water to a boil. Season with a large pinch of salt and add the noodles. Cook your pasta until al dente following the package directions.
    8 oz spaghettini noodles
  • Using a pair of kitchen tongs transfer the pasta straight into the pan with the artichoke sauce. Add a little bit of the pasta cooking water to stretch out the sauce if needed. Taste as you go and adjust seasonings.
    8 oz spaghettini noodles, 1/4 cup reserved pasta water
  • Serve promptly garnished with chopped onion chives, thinly sliced basil and extra lemon wedges.
    Garnish: basil + onion chives

Notes

  • Artichoke Pasta Sauce - Artichoke hearts, freshly squeezed lemon juice and olive oil are processed into a naturally creamy and lemony sauce that is mixed with lots of sautéed garlic and a sprinkling of capers. A naturally vegan, gluten free and dairy free sauce. Freshly steamed, frozen or canned artichokes can be used interchangeably here so use whatever you've got.
  • The Pasta - I happen to be really fond of a bronze drawn durum wheat semolina spaghettini here. The rougher texture helps the sauce adhere to it perfectly and lends the ideal thickness between capellini and spaghetti. All things considered, many different pasta shapes will work here. Bronze drawn bucatini or linguine offer a toothsome bite, short shape pasta like chewy orecchiette "little ears", conchiglie "shells", lumache rigate "snails" can be used to turn this into a pasta salad.

Nutrition

Calories: 695kcal | Carbohydrates: 105g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Sodium: 826mg | Potassium: 433mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 29IU | Vitamin C: 60mg | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 2mg
Course: Entree
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: artichoke pasta, lemon pasta
Servings: 2 people
Calories: 695kcal
Author: Florentina

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3 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This has become a new favorite weeknight meal for us. Something I would usually expect to try at a nice restaurant, lovely flavor hitting all the right notes, definitely a keeper and a fabulous use of artichokes. Thank you for sharing your recipe.

  2. What a great recipe, and even better that it can be done with frozen artichokes! I usually buy them at the beginning of the month, and have the hardest time coming up with ideas on how to eat them. I can’t stand eating them alone, but I enjoy cooking them in something. Definitely going to try this!