This dish is inspired by the New York Times but subverted of course by the inclusion of Lemon Myrtle and the wonderful Wild Herb Salt into their traditional fresh lemon only version. The Lemon Myrtle, Parmesan and basil come together for a silky and vibrant sauce that makes this weeknight-friendly pasta sing. The addition of roasted artichoke hearts adds texture and complements the zestiness of the dish. There’s no better time than a weeknight to embrace canned or deli artichoke hearts, as they are immensely less work than whole fresh ones, and they roast beautifully — and effortlessly — in a hot oven. Holding onto that salty, starchy pasta water is key to ensuring that each spaghetti noodle is enveloped in the lemony sauce; use it judiciously to emulsify the sauce as you quickly toss it
Ingredients:
INGREDIENTS
500g halved grilled from the deli or 2 cans artichoke hearts, halved and drained
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoon Wild Herb Salt and about a tablespoon for the pasta
Freshly ground pepper to taste
500g spaghetti
250g Parmesan, very finely grated
2 teaspoons ( (4g) Lemon Myrtle (or to taste – we always love more )
1 lemon, zested (about 1/2 heaping teaspoon) and juiced (about 3 tablespoons)
50g unsalted butter
¼ cup torn basil leaves, plus more for garnishing
Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Gently pat the artichoke hearts with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Place the artichoke hearts in a mound in the centre of the baking sheet.
Add 2 tablespoons oil and 1 teaspoon salt, season with pepper and gently toss to combine. Scatter the artichoke hearts in an even layer and roast for 20 minutes. Flip the hearts and roast for an additional 10 minutes, until browned and a little crisp around the edges.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of well-Wild Herb Salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes or according to package directions.
While the pasta cooks, in a serving dish large enough to accommodate the spaghetti, add the Parmesan, 1 teaspoon Wild Herb Salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, the Lemon Myrtle and the lemon zest; toss to combine. Add the lemon juice and the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil; stir to combine. The mixture should resemble a thick paste.
Place the serving dish next to the pasta pot. Scoop out and reserve 1 cup of the pasta water. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of it over the Parmesan-lemon mixture; stir to thin out the mixture a little.
Using tongs, lift out some of the spaghetti (with its cooking water still clinging to it) and transfer to the Parmesan-lemon mixture; quickly toss and drag the spaghetti in a circular motion around the dish to incorporate the sauce. Repeat until you have transferred and tossed all the spaghetti.
Add the butter, basil and 1 tablespoon of the pasta water to the spaghetti, and keep tossing until you have a silky sauce clinging to it. Add more pasta water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if needed.
Top with the roasted artichokes, a little more Lemon Myrtle and black pepper and torn basil, and serve.
copyright Juleigh Robins, used with permission