Lemon Pasta

Recipe beginnings

We love this lemon pasta with chickpeas and feta cheese! This recipe was born of not having any idea of what to make for lunch one day. You know those days when you can’t think of what to make and everyone is hungry? And you’re too tired to go to the grocery store? This was one of those days.

It turns out that I had a box of spaghetti noodles, some lemons, some leftover feta cheese, green onions, and a can of beans. So! Why not try them together and see how it goes? I can’t say for sure if it’s technically an Italian dish, except for the fact that it’s made of spaghetti noodles. The other ingredients are often used in Mediterranean cuisine, but whatever it is, we enjoy it and it’s easy!

Things to consider

Here are a few things to consider when making this recipe:

1. Reserve some pasta water. Pasta just likes to be served with a little cooking water. A Google search provides article after article about the topic.
2. Add about a tablespoon of salt to the boiling water when adding the pasta. It is absorbed into the pasta and it improves the flavor. Googling this topic also turns up a lot of articles.
3. When juicing the lemons, use a sieve or juice them into a separate bowl and scoop out the seeds. Otherwise, you’ll end up with seeds in your pasta, and it’s a hassle to fish them out. I know this from experience. Also, the lemon juice is an important part of the overall flavor, so don’t skip it.
4. The feta cheese adds just the right amount of saltiness to the dish. If you don’t have feta cheese, use parmesan or another type. If you have no cheese whatsoever, you will probably need to salt the finished pasta according to taste.
5. You can omit the chickpeas (otherwise known as garbanzo beans) as seen in the photos, but it’s great to include them as part of the dish for their protein content.
6. The red pepper flakes add some pizazz but use prudence in how much you add. Maybe even let each guest add their preferred amount to their serving. Too much spice in any dish can make it unbearable for some, and that would just be sad. It’s just meant to add a bit of flare to the dish, not to be a main component.

Nutrition

What will this meal do for me? Consider this information:

Spaghetti noodles (whole grain is best): Grains provide many nutrients that are vital for the health and maintenance of our bodies, such as several B vitamins that help release energy and support a healthy nervous system, minerals that build bone and release energy and support a healthy immune system, and fiber (in whole grain pasta) to support heart health and good digestion. See MyPlate.gov for more info.

Lemon juice: Lemon juice contains vitamin C which is important for the growth and repair of all body tissues. It helps heal cuts and wounds and keeps teeth and gums healthy. It helps your body absorb iron more easily. It may also reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. See MyPlate.gov for more info.

Chickpeas (garbanzo beans): An excellent source of carbohydrate, protein, fiber, B vitamins, and some minerals, they are a nutritious staple of many diets around the world. Chickpeas contain several components that, when eaten as part of a balanced plant-rich diet, may help prevent the development of various chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. They may also improve gut flora. See Harvard School of Public Health for more info.

We love this dish! Keep the ingredients on hand to make it anytime!